The American Statistical Association (ASA) has made it a priority to attract and retain statistical practitioners in a wide variety of fields. As Bob Rodriguez said in his Presidential address, the ASA needs to be the “Big Tent” for all statisticians.
One area that the ASA has been working on is providing reasons for statistical programmers to become part of the ASA. The Section for Statistical Programmers and Analysts (SSPA) was founded in 2009 to support programmers. The section has worked hard to provide webinars on topics such as CDISC standards and job interview skills, which appeal to those of us “down in the trenches.” Another was last year’s inaugural Conference on Statistical Practice, which appeals to statisticians who are interested in job-related skills that have traditionally been underrepresented at the JSM.
The SSPA is proud to sponsor grants to students and recent graduates to cover the registration fee at any ASA conference, including the Conference on Statistical Practice IN New Orleans, February 21 - 23, 2013. Registration opens October 1, 2012, so submit your applications to the SSPA now!
On a related note, I saw that the South-Central SAS Users Group (SCSUG) has scholarships for students (apply by September 24, 2012) to attend SCSUG, in Houston, November 5-6, 2012. If you are in the South-Central reason and use SAS, apply soon!