For several years, I traveled to Havana Cuba. Mainly I was attending the Havana Cuba jazz festival. and in a future year I will visit again . ----Yes. ---- it is perfectly legal to travel to/from Cuba, though there are certainly a couple "hoops" to jump through. And I eventually made arrangements and met the chair of the Operations research department at U Havana, Dr. Carlos Bouza (possibly Dr. Bouza has retired and last I heard he had some health concerns). A picture of Dr. Bouza and myself in Havana https://flic.kr/p/rqfpA4
I learned that the Cuban scientists and mathematicians and others at UHavana appreciate (new or used) textbook donations. Please Keep in mind that the average monthly income of a Cuban citizen is about $20 (US) per month. And we all know that statistics textbooks, even used can cost (US) $50 to $100- far more than the typical monthly income. Coincidentally An ASA past president Marie Davidian also visited Cuba on an official ASA trip and met with statisticians, including Dr. Bouza at UHavana. If I recall correctly Marie returned to give some lectures or made arrangements for others to visit and give lectures.
On a solo return trip , I gave a statistics lecture at a small international O.R. conference at U Havana organized by Dr. Bouza. Unfortunately I don't have any immediate plans to visit Cuba in the next year and can't volunteer to carry books.
ON a google search I did find that Michigan State U (MSU) has an arrangement for students to donate textbooks to Havana. I haven't talked to my Contact in Cuba (Dr Bouza) recently. and on a separate trip I met and donated books to the head of the Cuba Census Department. It appears the organizers at MSU have contacts in Cuba. I would assume they could direct donations to the "Operations research" or "statistics" or "mathematics" department (statistics is part of OR at U Havana) . And if you happen to know anyone from the US traveling to Cuba, they may be able to take some text books with them
https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2013/donating-textbooks-to-cuban-students
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Chris Barker, Ph.D.
Past Chair
Statistical Consulting Section
Consultant and
Adjunct Associate Professor of Biostatistics
www.barkerstats.com---
"In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds."
-Steve Lacy
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-15-2024 08:15
From: Harmon Jordan
Subject: Library Available
I have a 45 year collection of statistics books available to donate. Would these be of interest to anyone?
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Harmon Jordan
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