ASA Connect

Please forward this call for applications to colleagues in developing countries.

Call for Applications for LISA 2020 Symposium August 15-18 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The LISA 2020 Program aims to build statistics and data science capacity in developing countries by creating a robust network of statistics and data science collaboration laboratories ("stat labs"). These stat labs can be Engines for Development by training the next generation of collaborative statisticians and data scientists; serving as infrastructure to support local researchers, businesses, government, and NGOs; and teaching short courses and workshops to improve statistical skills and data literacy widely. The LISA 2020 Program encourages stat labs to improve their operations by improving their professional and technical skills and adapting best practices learned from one another.

The LISA 2020 Program will be hosting the second LISA 2020 Symposium 15-18 August 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Impiana Hotel next to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Symposium participants will engage in a total of six workshops during the day and social activities during the evening. During the International Statistical Institute's 62nd World Statistics Congress (WSC) 18-23 August, current members of the LISA 2020 Network will be sharing their stat labs' best practices in several invited paper sessions. We will also host a Lunch Time Discussion Group about the LISA 2020 Program during the WSC.

We encourage applications from statisticians and data scientists who are in a position within their institution to create a statistics and data science collaboration laboratory ("stat lab") to participate in the 2019 LISA 2020 Symposium. We have a limited amount of funds from our partners at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to sponsor travel expenses for select participants. Priority may be given to those who already have funds to attend the WSC.

We will begin reviewing applications on 1 May 2019. The application can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/ib9z9gfxHQu7pjHr5
More information on the LISA 2020 Program can be found at www.lisa2020.org.

Applicants must commit to participating in all of the symposium activities on 15-18 August.

A preliminary schedule of the 2019 LISA 2020 Symposium is as follows:
August 15 5PM: Welcome dinner for all participants
August 16 9AM-5PM: Introduction and Welcome, "Collaboration Skills" workshop, lunch, "Creating and Administering a Stat Lab" workshop, "Transforming Evidence to Action" workshop, Dinner at nearby hawker stalls
August 17 9AM-5PM: "Teaching R for Data Science" workshop, lunch, "Grant Writing" workshop, Dinner at nearby hawker stalls and touristic visit to the Petronas Towers
August 18 9AM-4PM: "Developing Trainings" workshop, lunch, Wrap-up/assessment/working session, evening Opening reception for ISI WSC
August 19-23: Sharing best practices via three invited paper sessions, contributed sessions, and LISA 2020 Lunch Time Discussion Group at the ISI 62nd WSC.

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Eric Vance
LISA-University of Colorado Boulder
Associate Professor and Director
Boulder CO, United States
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