March

In This Issue

Spring has sprung! - hopefully. While the city holds its collective breath that this week of mild weather signals the end of winter, the city prepares itself for St. Patrick's Day (and Pi Day) celebrations, and most feel relieved that the worst is probably behind us. If you're interested in celebrating the better weather with more statistically inclined revelry than the St. Patrick's Day parade, the CCASA has some great events coming up this spring.

Continue reading for more about our March luncheon with Albert Madansky, Is there ever a first time?, which will describe statistical methods used to determine the probability of yet-to-be-experienced events, and the upcoming April workshop.

We've also included articles Pi Day festivities here in Chicago, more women taking up the data scientist mantle, and information about how to advertise your job opening, academic program, or consulting services with the CCASA.

Is There Always a First Time?

Albert Madansky

March 17th 2015

12pm-1:30pm

East Bank Club

500 N. Kingsbury

Chicago, IL 60610

Click here to register for the March luncheon

Abstract

Chapter 9 of Sharon Bertsch McGrayne's 2011 book, The Theory That Would Not Die, describes my RAND Corporation classified research in 1958 "On the Risk of an Accidental or Unauthorized Nuclear Detonation." Some of my analysis was Bayesian in nature, and so Sharon McGrayne learned of it (this work was not declassified until July 2000) and decided to include it in her book on Bayes' Rule, deftly titling her chapter "There's Always a First Time." In this talk I will describe the statistical methods I used in determining the probability of a hitherto unexperienced event occurring in the future.

Bio

Albert Madanskyis the H.G.B. Alexander Professor of Business Administration Emeritus in the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has been a faculty member at Chicago Booth since 1974, and in addition to teaching a variety of courses in statistics and econometrics, he has taught courses in business economics, information science, marketing, business policy, as well as a course entitled "Great Books in Business."

He also served as director of the Center for Management of Public and Nonprofit Enterprise, director of the Center for International Business and Education Research, associate dean for PhD studies, and deputy dean for Faculty. In addition, he was editor-in-chief of its Journal of Business.

Modern Regression Strategies

Frank E. Harrell Jr.

Vanderbilt University

April 24th 2015

8:30am - 4:30pm

The Feinberg School of Medicine

Northwestern University

680 North Lake Shore Drive - Ste 1400

Chicago, IL 60611

If you're interested in getting a solid foundation in regression modeling this price can't be beat.

This event is almost sold out so register soon!

Click here to register for the April Workshop

Abstract:

All standard regression models have assumptions that must be verified for the model to have power to test hypotheses and for it to be able to predict accurately. Of the principal assumptions (linearity, additivity, distributional), this course will emphasize methods for assessing and satisfying the first two.

Practical but powerful tools are presented for validating model assumptions and presenting model results. This course provides methods for estimating the shape of the relationship between predictors and response using the widely applicable method of augmenting the design matrix using restricted cubic splines.

Who Should Attend:

This program will benefit all analytics professionals, but especially those who want to get a good foundation in regression modeling in practice.Note: wireless access will be available at the venue, participants are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets.

Bio:

Dr. Frank Harrell is Professor of Biostatistics and Chair of the Department of Biostatistics of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. He received his Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1979. Dr. Harrell's interests include statistical modeling and model validation, statistical computing and graphics, reproducible research, survival analysis, clinical trials, health services and outcomes research, medical diagnostic and prognostic models, bootstrapping, missing data, and Bayesian modeling.

Mark your calendars for the April luncheon:

April 21st 12pm-1pm at the East Bank Club

stay tuned for more details!

This Saturday the date (3/14/15) aligns with the first 5 digits of Pi 3.1415, and mathematically minded Chicagoans are celebrating by running a "Pi K" (race of 3.14 miles), and eating pie, of course.March 14th is also Albert Einstein's birthday.

In the mood to celebrate this once-in-a-century Pi Day? Click here for a few of the places that will be celebrating this Saturday.

Did you know that the ASA is enthusiastically engaged in raising the profile of statisticians in policy issues, and advocating for matters of importance to statisticians?

Find out more here!

This recent article from the Chicago Sun-Times profiles several number-crunching women from Chicago, including data scientists from Groupon, Datascope Analytics, and the CCASA's very own Mary Kwasny!

With more than 40% of degrees in statistics being awarded to women, the quantitative fields hold a lot of opportunities for women, especially with the looming talent shortage forecast by McKinsey of nearly 200,000 skilled workers in these fields.

Would you like to advertise a job posting, academic program, or consulting services in the Chicago Chapter of the American Statistical Association's monthly newsletter and on our website?

Our Parameter goes out to thousands of quantitative professionals, students, and academics in the Chicagoland area and is a great option for targeted advertising to the statistical community. Advertisements remain valid for one month.

Please visit our information page for more details on payment and ad specifications.

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