November

Please join us for another exciting talk in the CCASA's 2010-2011 Luncheon program!

Loyola University Chicago's Timothy E. O'Brien will be speaking to us about a very relevant topic, the challenges of cross-culturalism and public health internationalization. We hope you can join us!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Noon to 1:30PM
The East Bank Club
500 N. Kingsbury, Chicago 60610

This month's presenter, Timothy E. O'Brien, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Loyola University Chicago, will be presenting on the topic "Peace Corps Meet Biostatistics: Challenges of Cross-Culturalism and Internationalization in Public Health."

Abstract

A search on the Wikipedia website under the topic "statistical literacy" yields references that go back 20 or so years - and more than half a century if one includes Huff's How to Lie with Statistics - thus evidencing the extensive impact that the statistical literacy (SL) movement has had in the US and Canada. Gone may be the days in which the learned instructor 'dispenses' knowledge from the podium as students are now encouraged (if not required) to actively participate in the acquisition of this essential foundation in statistical reasoning.

This talk focuses on the extent to which the SL movement and methods translate to other cultures - cultures where student interaction during lectures may be discouraged and where no allowance may be made for individual modes of learning. We will discuss cross-culturalism, social norms and mores, the push for 'internationalization', and challenges in education, consulting and research. The speaker shall borrow from his Peace Corps experiences in Benin, French West Africa in the 1980's and recent Fulbright experiences in Thailand.

Tim's research interests include experimental design, bioassay, relative potency and synergy. He has extensive overseas experience including biostatistical consulting in Belgium and Switzerland and a variety of academic positions in South Africa, Belgium, France, Germany, and Thailand. Tim has given short courses throughout Asia and the Middle East.

Lunch is $30 for CCASA members, $35 for non-members. Non-members, join the chapter for a year for only $15 and get the discount plus all of the other benefits of membership! As usual, the Lucile Derrick Fund will purchase a limited number of tickets for students who wish to attend. If you are a student and would like to take advantage of this offer, please register online below, and contact Gerald Funk, expressing your interest.

Please e-mail Gerald Funk at gfunk@luc.edu or call at 773-508-3561 for more information.

Register online now at http://www.123signup.com/calendar?Org=chicagoasa

Save the date for our December 7th luncheon, featuring our own Borko Jovanovic as the speaker!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Freakonomics luncheon last week! Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner shared wonderfully witty and fun stories from their experiences.

We enjoyed meeting you (and putting some faces to names) and hope to see you at another CCASA event soon!

The following is a message from CCASA board member Linda Clark:

Okay, statisticians and users of Statistics! Start thinking about January's luncheon topic, "Past, Present and Future of Statistics."

Remember last summer when we received the advertisement from Wiley about the "Encyclopedia of Statistical Science" promising a description of the new topics in the statistical literature?

Ever since, we've been working with the publishers to get this information into a luncheon meeting - especially because we have a common goal. We want to identify the hot new trends and techniques.

So PREPARE! Our plan is to have a presentation of what is involved in creating a book like the Encyclopedia (with less than 10,000 pages) from the millions of publications in the statistical literature, and the identification of the Encyclopedia's top hot topics and techniques - with input from both the editor in chief and the associate publisher. This will be followed by a round table/town hall meeting where we talk together about the future of our field and its potential for all of us.

Stay tuned for more information in our upcoming issues of the Parameter!

Please save the date for our ASA Chicago Chapter Spring 2011 Workshop!

Details are being finalized, but we are delighted to present the following workshop:

Regression Modeling with Many Correlated Predictors
Jay Magidson, Statistical Innovations
Tony Babinec, AB Analytics
Friday, April 1, 2011
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Rush University Medical Center
1653 W Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60612

Abstract

Recent advances in analysis of high dimensional data now allow reliable regression models to be developed even when the number of predictors exceeds the number of cases! In this course we begin by reviewing problems and limitations with traditional linear and logistic regression. Our applications-oriented presentation provides insight into how the new approaches work through examples and by providing an overview of the relevant theory, supplemented by the supporting equations. We use real and simulated data sets to illustrate the different approaches.

Watch for more information in upcoming issues of the Parameter or check the CCASA website.

PARAMETER, newsletter of the Chicago Chapter of the American Statistical Association, is published 10 times a year as a service to its members. To submit material for publication, contact the Editor, Linda Burtch, email: lburtch@burtchworks.com

PARAMETER provides a job listing service by publishing Positions Available and Positions Wanted, the latter being free to Chapter members. Companies may list positions for $75. Contact the Editor for more information.

For additional information about Chicago Chapter ASA, please visit us on the web at: www.ChicagoASA.org.

Also, visit the National ASA web site www.amstat.org.

Email change of address to: smileyr@georgetown.edu

©CCASA 2009