AmStat
American Statistical Association (AmStat)
Population Scientists Discuss Maternal Mortality on Capitol Hill
On July 22, the Population Association of America (PAA), in cooperation with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Statistical Association (ASA), Association of Population Centers, March of Dimes, Population Reference Bureau, and Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), sponsored its annual in-person briefing on Capitol Hill, “Maternal Mortality in America: Understanding the Challenges and Crafting Population Based Solutions.” PAA, ASA, and SRCD are COSSA governing member organizations. The briefing featured a panel of experts who addressed not only nuances in data regarding U.S. maternal mortality trends, but also addressed potential policy recommendations. The speakers’ presentations also underscored…
2025 Joint Statistical Meetings
The Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) is the largest gathering of statisticians and data scientists in North America. It is held jointly with the following organizations: *Indicates the founding societies of JSM It is also one of the broadest, with topics ranging from statistical applications to methodology and theory to the expanding boundaries of statistics, such as analytics and data science. JSM also offers a unique opportunity for statisticians in academia, industry, and government to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. Beginning statisticians (including current students) are able to learn from and interact with senior members of the profession.
American Statistical Association Releases “The Nation’s Data at Risk” Report
On July 9, The American Statistical Association (ASA), in partnership with George Mason University, hosted a webinar and released a report focused on assessing the health of the principal federal statistical agencies. This webinar provided an overview of the most comprehensive and current assessment of the challenges facing the nation’s most vital statistics and the report detailed the findings and recommendations from the project team. The team assessed the health of federal statistical agencies regarding professional autonomy, support from their parent agency, sufficiency of their budget and staffing, challenges and opportunities for data quality and innovation, and engagement with data…
2024 Joint Statistical Meetings
The Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) is the largest gathering of statisticians and data scientists in North America. It is held jointly with the following organizations: *Indicates the founding societies of JSM It is also one of the broadest, with topics ranging from statistical applications to methodology and theory to the expanding boundaries of statistics, such as analytics and data science. JSM also offers a unique opportunity for statisticians in academia, industry, and government to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. Beginning statisticians (including current students) are able to learn from and interact with senior members of the profession.
OMB Issues Trust Regulation RFI within the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a request for information for the codification of the four fundamental responsibilities of the Codification of Statistical Policy Directive No. 1 (Trust Regulation) within the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA). The responsibilities are the production of relevant and timely data, ensuring that data is credible and accurate, remaining objective, and protecting confidentiality. In a recent webinar on the Trust Regulation hosted by the American Statistical Association, a COSSA Governing Member, U.S. Chief Statistician, Karin A. Orvis, highlighted the importance of codifying the responsibilities to improve transparency in the agency and improve public…
AmStat and COSSA Virtual Briefing: What the Latest DOJ Funded Research and Statistics Say About Crime and Justice in the US
On July 27, the American Statistical Association (AmStat) and COSSA will be sponsoring a virtual briefing concerning the importance of research and statistics to inform crime and justice policy. Join Dr. Nancy La Vigne, Director of the National Institute of Justice, and Dr. Alex Piquero, Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, for a discussion about their priorities for advancing the use of science in crime and justice including in the areas of forensics and DNA, corrections and recidivism reduction, and the effectiveness of police body armor. Learn more about the briefing and registration here.
Puerto Rico’s Statistical Agency Spared from Reorganization (For Now)
Legislators in Puerto Rico have backed away from a plan to dismantle Puerto Rico’s statistical agency, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRIS). The proposal had been included in drafts of a government reorganization bill being considered by the commonwealth’s Legislative Assembly; it would have moved the independent agency to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce and outsourced many of its activities to the private sector. COSSA joined a letter led by the American Statistical Association (ASA), a COSSA governing member, to call for PRIS to maintain its independence. The provision was ultimately removed in the final conferenced version…