Statistics without Borders of the American Statistical Association, a Driving Force of Unprecedented Science Diplomacy with DPR Korea
An innovative program for academic collaboration and science diplomacy with the DPRK (North Korea) launched this July and will conclude by the month’s end. Called the Pyongyang Summer Institute in Survey Science and Quantitative Methodology (PSI), the program brought thirteen scholars from Switzerland, Germany, Britain, Qatar, Australia, and the U.S. to teach several courses on survey statistics at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). As the DPRK’s only private and international university, PUST has brought over 250 DPRK students to receive PSI instruction in courses like applied sampling, survey research methodology, and statistics. Graduate students are trained in courses like interdisciplinary research methods and grant writing, data collection methods, and computer-assisted survey data analysis.
In an unprecedented fashion, PSI offers a platform for long-term sustainable science diplomacy between the DPRK and the US (and other western nations). PSI will complete its three-year pilot stage in July 2014, after which it will evaluate for further growth in the following decade. Specifically, PSI: (1) offers the academic and pragmatic training of survey methodology and statistics for areas like economy, international trade, public health, and education; (2) fosters scholarly and educational exchange with the DPRK; and (3) invests in the students as future DPRK scholars and leaders in survey methodology, statistics, and interdisciplinary research.
Though the July 2012 program has not yet concluded, PSI faculty have been encouraged by the success of the first year. The caliber, curiosity, and enthusiasm of the DPRK students made a great impression on the entire faculty. For regular updates on this year's program, visit the PSI blog at: http://www.pyongyangsummerinstitute.org/blog.html.
PSI is organized by Statistics without Borders of the American Statistical Association and the 501(c)(3) International Strategy and Reconciliation Foundation (ISR), in collaboration with PUST. Preeminent leaders of science diplomacy with a demonstrated investment in the DPRK lead the program. These include: Professor Peter Agre of Johns Hopkins, Nobel laureate in Chemistry and leader of the first international science conference in the DPRK; Lord David Alton, former Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Committee on North Korea for the British Parliament; and Dr. Chan-Mo Park, former President of POSTECH, a leading South Korean university of science and technology.
PSI, multiplied over years, is expected to contribute to the innovation and leadership of DPRK students and scholars and to facilitate US-DPRK and Europe-DPRK academic and professional exchange.
Post your comments below or email to Gary Shapiro, Chair of SWB, g.shapiro4@live.com ; Justin Fisher, newly elected Chair of SWB fisherjs@gmail.com; Asaph Young Chun, Co-Chair of Media and Publicity Committee ychun2@gmail.com ; or Yena Lee, PSI Assistant Director, Yena.Lee@Yale.edu.
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PSI instructors with expertise in survey research methods are: Sunny Bak, statistical consultant; Dr. Annelies Blom, Germany; Dr. Woody Carter, University of Chicago; Dr. Asaph Young Chun, an alumnus of Michigan Summer Institute and PSI Director; Michael Costello, RTI International; Justin Fisher, George Washington University; Dr. Mark Griffin, Australian Development Agency for Statistics and Information Systems; Professor Patricia Gwartney, University of Oregon; Adam Molnar, University of Georgia; Dr. Rene Paulson and Dr. Jacquelyn Pennings, Elite Research in Texas; Pinar Ucar, Qatar Statistics Authority; and Elena Zafarana, Swiss Federal Office of Communications.
The DPRK Working Group of SWB, all members of American Statistical Association, plans and implements the PSI. Members of the group are: Gary Shapiro, Chair of Statistics without Borders and former mathematical statistician, U.S. Census Bureau; Dr. Griffin; Dr. James Cochran, professor, Louisiana Tech University; Michael Costello; Professor Sunghee Lee, University of Michigan Joint Program in Survey Methodology; Professor Dominique Haughton, Bentley University; Professor Dongseok Choi, Oregon Health and Science University; Professor Duncan Thomas, Director of the Biostatistics Division, and Verna R. Richter Chair in Cancer Research, University of Southern California; and Professor Mary Gray, American University, Washington, D.C. Chair of the working group is Dr. Asaph Young Chun; Co-chair, Justin Fisher.
About Statistics Without Borders
Statistics without Borders of American Statistical Association is an apolitical group that was formed in late 2008 to provide pro-bono statistical support to organizations involved in not-for-profit international efforts, mostly involving survey planning and/or analysis of survey data. The goal of the group is to achieve better statistical practice, including statistical analysis and design of experiments and surveys. SWB has more than 500 members from some 30 countries.
PSI Advisory Board:
- Peter Agre, Professor at Johns Hopkins; Nobel laureate in Chemistry
- Malcolm Gillis, former President of Rice University
- Chan-Mo Park, former President of POSTECH; former Senior Advisor to President Lee Myung-Bak of South Korea in Science and Technology
- Lord David Alton of the British Parliament
- Stuart Thorson, Professor at Syracuse University
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Asaph Young Chun, Ph.D.
Co-Chair of Media and Publicity Committee
Statistics without Borders
American Statistical Association