Please join us online for the September Queensland Branch Meeting. 

When: 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (AEST)

Tuesday 28th September 2021

Location: Online - Zoom, register here.

Statisticians and the reproducibility crisis

Abstract: Statisticians play a key role in almost all scientific research, and so are also key to tackling the reproducibility crisis which is undermining the value of much scientific research. Our role may be particularly important given that many problems with irreproducible papers are due to problems in the study design, statistical analysis and interpretation of results. We must promote more efficient, replicable and credible science, starting today, by being the role-model statisticians that we need for tomorrow.

Our four speakers will give their perspective on statistics and the reproducibility crisis, and also give their opinions on how statisticians can help improve the quality of research. We hope to have at least 20 minutes for discussion after the speakers' presentations, so please come along and share your thoughts on this hugely important topic.

Speakers:

Dr Sabine Hoffmann is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximillans-University of Munich. Sabine’s research projects investigates the effects of fishing for significance on statistical inference, and methods that allow handling of results variability when applying alternative analytical strategies. Sabine conveys these ideas in her consulting activities in order to raise awareness on how common research practices can have devastating effects on the replicability of research findings.

Dr John Maindonald is a retired visiting research Fellow at the Centre for Mathematics and Its Applications, Australian National University (ANU). John has 50 years of experience collaborating and consulting with organisations and scientists across a wide range of application areas. Some of his research interests include statistical computation, statistical perspectives on data mining, use of R for practical data analysis, research planning and population genetics.

Dr Teresa (Terry) Neeman is a biostatistician with the Biological Data Science Institute, ANU College of Science. She has more than two decades of experience as a biostatistician working with biologists, biomedical researchers and clinicians in both industry and academia. Terry enjoys the statistical challenges associated with all aspects of experimental work; from experimental design to data exploration and statistical modelling. Over the last several years, she has worked more closely with bioinformaticians, and has developed a strong interest in tools for visualisation and inference of highly complex data.

Prof Adrian Barnett is the Program Lead – Statistics in Health Services at the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovations, QUT. He has spent more than 23 years working as a statistician, specialising in biostatistics, health services research and the research funding. He is particularly passionate about the application of statistics to health and the use of data analysis to develop cost-effective interventions within the health sector.

Moderator: A/Prof. Dimitrios Vagenas