STATS MATTERS & EVENTS

19 September 2024                                               

Dear {Contact_First_Name},                                    

The expressions of interest to join the Significance Editorial Board is closing on 26 September. If you know of anyone or passionate to contribute to the profession, submit your EOI before 26 September. 

I would like to congratulate Shih Ching Fu who was awarded the 2024 Golden Jubilee Travel Grant. Shih Ching plans to utilise the travel grant by attending The ThunderKAT & X-KAT Meeting 2024 at the University of Milan from 23-27 September. Shih Ching is featured in "In the Spotlight" for his efforts and securing the award this year.

Awards are established to acknowledge outstanding work, showcase potential and celebrate achievements. The Statistical Computing and Visualisation Section is calling for nominations for the Venable Award and the 2024 Di Cook Award. A great opportunity for students & early career professionals to be recognised for their work.

Notice: I will be away from 20 Sep, returning 10 Oct

Due to my absence, Stats Matters will be put on hold until I return. The next issue of Stats Matters will resume and scheduled for Thursday, 17 October.

Vanaja Thomas

General Manager                                                                

Join the Editorial Board |closing 26 Sep

Significance magazine has been a major initiative to bring statistics to a broad audience.  It has featured articles from contributors around the world, including from Australia.  

The magazine started in 2004 as a partnership between the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and the American Statistical Association (ASA).  In 2021, the Statistical Society of Australia joined them as a third partner.  This has benefited all of our members, who now enjoy free online access to the magazine.

Our partnership also comes with representation: we can appoint two of our members to join the Significance Editorial Board.  Members of that board help shape and steer the content of Significance: they develop article ideas, write articles of their own, identify potential contributors, and review submissions prior to publication.

One of our current representatives on the board, Damjan Vukcevic, will be stepping down from this role and we are seeking a replacement.

If you are interested in finding out more about this role, and have a passion for making statistics accessible and engaging to all, please get in touch with us at contact@statsoc.org.au by 26 September 2024.

In The Spotlight

Shih Ching Fu Awarded the 2024 Golden Jubilee Travel Grant

Shih Ching, a highly motivated and talented student in the field of astrostatistics at Curtin University, has just been awarded the 2024 Golden Jubilee Travel Grant. The SSA's 2024 Golden Jubilee Travel Grant provides overseas travel funds of $1000 to one eligible student member of the Society to support the study, application and good practice of statistical theory and methods in all branches of learning and enterprise.

Shih Ching plans to utilise the travel grant by attending The ThunderKAT & X-KAT Meeting 2024 at the University of Milan from 23-27 September. At the conference, Shih Ching will present the work described in his manuscript “Characterising Radio Light Curves from ThunderKAT using Gaussian Processes” which was submitted to The Astrophysical Journal in June 2024. Shih Ching’s commitment to his field of study and attendance at the X-KAT Meeting will certainly contribute to his professional development and research endeavours.

The SSA congratulates Shih Ching and looks forward to seeing what he achieves next!

Statistical Computing and Visualisation Section

Venable Award

Are you an early to mid-career developer or researcher creating open-source software in data science or statistics? The 2024 Venables Award  is here to recognise and celebrate your innovative contributions! Whether working individually or as part of a team, you have the chance to showcase your software and win a $4000 first prize or $1000 runner-up prize.

Submit your project by November 1, 2024, along with a nomination from an SSA member. We're looking for open-source software that has a clear impact on statistical practice, is easy to use, and is well-documented. The software must be developed primarily in Australia, actively maintained, and contribute to reproducibility in research.

2024 Di Cook Award

Calling all student developers of open-source software in statistics! The 2024 Di Cook Award is now open for applications. This award is an excellent opportunity for students or recent graduates from Australian institutions to showcase their innovative contributions to the field of statistics.

The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to present their work at an event in 2024. Eligible submissions must be open-source, actively maintained, and primarily developed by students. Both individuals and teams are encouraged to apply, and non-SSA members are welcome. The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2024.

WA Branch Event: Beyond Traditional Variables: A Statistical Framework for Modelling Complex Travel Behaviours and Preferences in New Zealand

On Tuesday, September 10th, Dr. Cecilia Xia and Rebecca Herbst from Data Analysis Australia (DAA) presented at the Statistical Society of Australia's WA September branch meeting, discussing their recent project with New Zealand Transport. The project, titled "Beyond Traditional Variables: A Statistical Framework for Modelling Complex Travel Behaviours and Preferences in New Zealand," showcased innovative approaches to understanding transportation choices.

Cecilia took the audience on a journey through the modelling framework that was created following an extensive review of the literature in the Transport domain, psychological factors influencing transport choices and a variety of statistical models. The framework documents how hybrid-models can be used to capture complex travel behaviours where multi-modal, multi-leg, multi-user and multi-purpose trips can be modelled comprehensively. A part of the framework included modelling perceived behaviours using confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling. Rebecca recounted some of the challenges associated with the handling of the large survey respondent data set. She described the extensive transformation and processing required to create innovative variables that would be fit for modelling mode choice and journey experience. Cecilia and Rebecca both recounted some key results from the project.

Overall, the project developed a state of the art framework for modelling transport behaviours that can be used in the future to understand travel choices to drive change within Transport industries. Cecilia and Rebecca from DAA worked with collaborators on the project. They thanked other consultants at DAA particularly Damian Warpenius, Anna Hayes, and Dr. John Henstridge. They also thanked Professor Simon Farell, Derek Swe, Dr. Prakesh Ranjtkar, and Ramesh Majhi for their support and the New Zealand Transport Agency for funding the project. Thanks Cecilia and Rebecca for your talk!

Partner with SSA

Interested to partner with us from a simple event sponsorship, conferences to long-term collaboration, please reach out to Jodi Phillips at events@statsoc.org.au .

SSA Upcoming Events

SSA Early Career & Student Statistician Conference 

18 - 21 November 2024 | Perth | Hobart | Christchurch

Early Bird Extended until 20 September - Register Now!

Don't miss your chance to secure your spot at a reduced rate. Whether you're a student, early-career statistician, or established professional, this event is an excellent opportunity to connect, gain mentorship, network, and share innovative ideas in the field of statistics.

Conference Highlights

We are especially dedicated to supporting students and early career statisticians by fostering a supportive environment where they can connect with mentors, share ideas, and receive guidance on their professional development. This is your chance to build valuable connections and gain insights that will help shape your future in statistics.

Expression of Interest (EOI) - ECSSC Scholarships

Are you interested in attending the Early Career & Student Statistician Conference but need financial support?

We're offering scholarships to offset the early bird registration fee. If you meet the following criteria, we encourage you to submit an EOI:

• You are a student.
• You do not have an organisation covering your registration fees.
• A presentation is not required for eligibility.
• Registered interest in attending the conference (with a preference for in-person attendance, but online is available).

To apply, provide a short description of how attending the conference will benefit you. Recipients will also be asked to write a blurb for the SSA newsletter.

Once you have submitted your EOI, please register for the conference and hold off on paying the invoice until your application is reviewed.

We look forward to your participation!

SSA ACT Branch Meeting - Forecasting demand for Australian passports presented by Edward Kang

24 Sep 2024 | 5:45 PM – 7:00 PM (AEST) | In-person and online via Zoom

Prediction of human behaviour in the ‘real world’ is often challenging, as there is a plethora of factors that influence people and some of them occur completely randomly. This challenge is exacerbated when the same factor in the same environment can have different degrees of impacts on different individuals. However, this challenge becomes more manageable when you discover the underlying driver in their behaviour which you can convert to quantitative predictor variables. At the Australian Passport Office, we have analysed data collected over two decades to identify the right attributes to forecast passport demand, and we have used a traditional machine learning technique, random forest, to produce forecast models that were proven to show high accuracy even during and after the COVID-19.

ECSSN and NZSA webinar: Analysing haphazard Surveys with mild-ish Assumptions with Gordana Popovic

24 Sep 2024 | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (AEST) | Online 

While statisticians generally recommend collecting data via probability sampling, applied researchers studying humans frequently use haphazard and other non-probability samples to conduct surveys, and statistical consultants are regularly asked to help analyse such data. Principled analysis of non-probability samples relies on having reference data from probability samples or censuses, to adjust for non-response bias by say weighting or covariate adjustment. What can be done without auxiliary information?

It is well known that odds ratios are invariant under certain types of selection bias, for example outcome dependent sampling, which is why we use them in case control studies. We extend these results to selection bias on both the outcome and predictor, by way of some assumptions about how these biases are related.

In a collaboration on racial bias in police searches from a haphazard Facebook survey, where no auxiliary data was available, we used these assumptions to estimate odds ratios. We discuss how the assumptions were communicated with researchers so that their plausibility could be assessed by domain experts.

Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up

27 Sep 2024 | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (AEST) | Online

Come along with your thinking cap, maybe a problem, and some lunch!

The Statistical Consulting Network invites you to their monthly meet-up, a virtual lunchtime meeting where statisticians help each other out with problems that they aren’t sure how to deal with. This virtual meeting is held on Zoom at lunchtime on the last Friday of each month, 12:30-1:30 PM (AEST). We start each meet-up with announcements, or occasionally a special topic discussion, then discuss problems that attendees have brought along with them.

We also have a Slack workspace where members of the consulting network can communicate between meetings, or post problems or relevant materials they would like to discuss during a meeting.

Zoom link

Password: 660145

OceaniaR Hackathon 2024

21 Oct 2024 | Melbourne

On Oct 21-23 in Melbourne, there are several events co-organised by the SCV section: OceaniaR Hackathon, WOMBAT 2024. Registration for OceaniaR is free but spaces are restricted. However, registration for WOMBAT 2024 is $200/100 full/student. There are 8 half-day tutorials available on Oct 22, at a cost for each is $150/75 for full/student.

This event is a chance to collaborate in-person on R-focused projects for social good, with some of the leading developers in the R community. There will also be time to hold informal talks to share ideas, concepts and new packages for feedback. This event will have a focus on promoting projects and participation from R users in the Oceania region including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. All project ideas will be listed as Issues on the project Github and decided on the day.

Open the world with open source: WOMBAT

The purpose of this workshop is to bring together analysts from academia, industry and government to learn and discuss new open source tools for business analytics and data science. The focus this year is on developments in open source, that underlies much of the analytics conducted today, which helps to make the world around us more understandable. You should come if you are an analytics professional, or leading a team of analysts or a developer of new open source tools.

CPD 185– Statistical Communication Workshop

6 Nov 2024 – 13 Nov 2024 | Online- 1.5 hours a week

NSW Branch presents Statistical Communication Workshop by Dr Nicole Mealing. Do you struggle to explain to your audience why your statistical results matter? Or does your audience have difficulty understanding the data insights you communicate? Come along to this workshop to enhance your statistical communication skills.

This workshop will focus on what to consider before you start shaping communication outputs and how to deliver your data derived messages effectively. We’ll use worksheets to help you communicate statistical insights that derive understanding or action from your audiences.

These training sessions will enable participants to:

• Understand the importance of context and audience
• Select appropriate visual aids to successfully communicate data insights
• Identify opportunities to simplify your message and direct the audience to the most important parts of your data narrative.

Other News & Events

Bayes Comp 2025 Call for Satellite Workshops and Invited Sessions

Bayes Comp is a biennial meeting to discuss new research in Bayesian computation. The upcoming iteration, Bayes Comp 2025 will be held from 16-20th June, 2025 in Singapore. Submissions for satellite workshops and invited sessions are now open at https://bayescomp2025.sg/.

Get your proposals in before October 31st!

Behind the Expiration Date: Determining Product Shelf Life with Minitab

Join Minitab for a webinar where Cheryl Pammer, Senior Advisory Statistician, will delve into Stability Studies and their crucial role in the pharmaceutical and food industry. From life-saving medications to your favourite snacks, discover how these studies help ensure the safety and quality of the products we rely on every day.  

Women in STEM Careers and Entrepreneurship Masterclass

Unlock your potential at the upcoming Women in STEM Careers and Entrepreneurship Masterclass, hosted by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and Western Sydney University. This exclusive event will take place from 21 - 23 October at the Parramatta City Campus, Western Sydney University.

Designed for women STEM researchers, this masterclass offers a unique opportunity to delve into Australia’s research commercialisation and innovation ecosystem. Gain insights directly from industry and university experts in research innovation, and hear success stories from researchers who have transitioned into leading roles in startups or R&D teams.

Who should attend?

If you are a STEM research student or an early to mid-career researcher, this masterclass is tailored for you. We especially encourage those who have participated in an APR Internship, funded by APR’s WISE program, to take advantage of available sponsorships covering accommodation and travel expenses.

Event Details

• Time and Date: 9am - 5pm AEDT, 21 - 23 October 2024.
• Location: Level 9, Paramatta City Campus, Western Sydney University.
• Cost: $130 GA, Free for APR. Intern WiSE subsidy recipients.

Join us at the forefront of STEM innovation and entrepreneurship.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sydney this October!

Abstract Submissions & Registrations are now open for the 2024 ADSN conference

The ADSN Conference is heading to Western Australia this year.  It will be held at Curtin University in Perth and is being hosted by the Curtin Institute for Data Science.

• When:  Mon-Weds, 2-4 December
• Where: Curtin University, Bentley Campus
• Abstract deadline: 13 September

This year’s conference will feature an additional third day which will be industry-focussed. Also, there will be an opportunity to tour the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre on that day.

The International Environmetrics Society (TIES) Conference 2024

2 – 5 Dec 2024 | Adelaide

The International Environmetrics Society (TIES) is a non-profit organization aimed to foster the development and use of statistical and other quantitative methods in the environmental sciences, environmental engineering and environmental monitoring and protection. To this end, the Society promotes the participation of statisticians, mathematicians, scientists and engineers in the solution of environmental problems and emphasizes the need for collaboration and for clear communication between individuals from different disciplines and between researchers and practitioners.

All contributions related to environmetrics are welcome from across academia, research institutes, government, business and industry.

Key Dates:

For questions contact: John Boland john.boland@unisa.edu.au

SSA Career Centre

Employers can advertise job openings for statisticians and data analysts, while job seekers can post their own resume for potential employers to view – anonymously.

Members can register with the Career Centre, setting job alerts to be notified if a job meeting their search criteria is advertised. There's also the option of having one’s resume reviewed at no cost before uploading it, where it can be seen by potential employers.

Once registered with the SSA Career Centre as an employer, the site will allow users to post and manage job openings, search and manage prospective job candidates, and create a company profile. The fees for ads start at $130.

The SSA team would love to hear from you!

If you have any feedback or news from the Australian statistical community to share in Stats Matters and Events, get in touch with us!