Hey!
I'm glad you're here.
Yes! There will be plenty of opportunities to learn AI at JSM. But the AI I am talking about is Applied Improvisation, and you can get an introduction to it with course CE21: Quick-Thinking, Confident, Communicative, and Collaborative: Fundamentals of Applied Improvisation for (Bio)statisticians and Data Scientists (Tues, Aug 5: 08:30-12:30).
What is applied improvisation?
Simply put, applied improvisation is the application of theatre games and exercises to help individuals stretch their boundaries by becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, such as taking risks, making mistakes, and exhibiting vulnerability. The Steering Committee of the International Conference on Health Policy Statistics (ICHPS) recognized the importance of these skills, including a two-hour Workshop led by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at their 2025 conference. And the Leadership in Practice Committee of the Biopharmaceutical Section hosted a workshop in Raleigh, NC in summer 2024.
Applied improvisation has been used for decades in business schools (including UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School and Duke's Fuqua School of Business) to assist students in developing and expanding quick thinking, confidence, communication, and collaboration. Similar training is used to help clinicians, healthcare workers, and scientists better engage their patients, collaborators, and non-technical colleagues. Improvisation skills enable leaders to be eager servants to their team, communicate more effectively, and create an atmosphere where individuals can think and share freely.
And to share my personal experience, AI has had numerous benefits to my career as a statistical scientist. Improvisation has allowed me to be confident in my own knowledge and abilities, granting me control of my imposter syndrome and freeing me from the need to overprepare to "get things perfect." It is the ideal reinforcement to my leadership style, which seeks collaboration, stresses openness to new ideas, encourages others to actively contribute, and serves and supports others when things do not go as planned (as is common).
Why should I consider a non-technical course at a technical conference?
I appreciate that there are limited opportunities to learn new things, especially from experts in a face-to-face environment. But statisticians and data scientists already excel at the technical stuff. If you attend any session on leadership, or listen to a talk or webinar from the veterans in our field, they rarely ever state that statisticians need more technical training. What they will tell you is that we need to be more effective communicators and collaborators. And in an environment where facts and science are under attack, these skills are important now more than ever.
Anything else?
This course is not about performance or being funny (though that happens). It's about developing skills that are useful in any workplace. We'll examine the parallels to every exercise we do.
Signing up for the class may put you outside of your comfort zone. Taking risks to try something new will do that. But you will learn some new skills, and you will have a good time. And by the end of it, you may even find that you're disappointed it was not a full day class! Space is limited to 20 individuals. And while I'd recommend this course to anyone attending JSM, students, young professionals, and those seeking to develop their confidence can especially benefit for participating.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me. My contact information is available in the ASA directory, and you can connect with me on LinkedIn and send a message.
Thanks for listening, and I hope to see you August 5th!
Richard
------------------------------
Richard C. Zink, Ph.D.
Principal Research Fellow
JMP Statistical Discovery LLC
------------------------------