Dear {Contact_First_Name},
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Vale John Hopper John
Hopper died suddenly earlier this week, aged 74.
Professor
Hopper was Head of the Breast Cancer Unit in the Centre for Epidemiology and
Biostatistics at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.
After
completing a PhD in mathematical statistics at La Trobe University with Niels
Becker, John commenced a career in genetic epidemiology with John Mathews as
mentor. He had worked at the University of Melbourne since 1980,
co-authored more than 1000 papers and supervised over 40 graduate research
students. His research made a seminal contribution to understanding how genetic
and environmental factors influence the risk of breast cancer and colorectal
cancer. He also made important contributions to statistical methodology for the
analysis of pedigree data, especially twin studies.
In
2008 John was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to public
health and the biomedical sciences, particularly in the field of genetic
epidemiology as an academic and researcher, and as the Director of Twins
Research Australia.
John
contributed to the Statistical Society of Australia as a member and speaker at
conferences, always valuing the role that statistics plays in health and
medical research.
The Society expresses its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Ian
Gordon and Lyle Gurrin
31
October 2024 |
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दीपावली की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं
Happy Diwali !
The SSA's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee extends warm wishes to all our members celebrating दीपावली (Diwali) today.
Today marks the opening celebration of दीपावली (Diwali, or also known as Deepavali). The five-day-long Festival of Lights is one of the most significant cultural festivals in the Indian calendar, celebrated by millions around the world - including many Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist communities.
दीपावली (Diwali orDeepavali) roughly translates to "row of lights" ; Derived from Sanskrit words दीप (diya - lamp) and आवलि (avali - row).
This joyous occasion celebrates multi-cultural allegories symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.
During Diwali, celebrants traditionally come together with family and friends to share festive meals, set off fireworks, exchange gifts and light traditional दीपम्, (Diya or Dīpam), oil lamps made from clay.
As millions around the world illuminate their homes and workplaces today, the SSA joins in celebrating the cultural diversity that enriches our statistical community.
We wish you and your loved ones a joyous and prosperous Diwali.
Beth Firipis
Chair, SSA EDI Committee |
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In 2018
the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Statistics (ANZJS) introduced a ‘read
discussion paper’ initiative. The idea mirrors the discussed papers of the
Royal Statistical Society. One paper (at most) is selected each year by the
Editorial Team as a read paper. The choice of article typically depends on
overall quality, impact, and generality of interest.
The 2024
read discussion paper is
Anderson,
M.J., Gorley, R.N. and Terlizzi, A. (2024). The incremental progression from
fixed to random factors in the analysis of variance: a new synthesis (with
discussion), accepted for publication in Australian and New Zealand Journal of
Statistics.
A
preprint can be downloaded from https://www.stats.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/anderson-et-al-preprint.pdf
. The paper will be read at the New Zealand Statistical Association Conference,
Victoria University Wellington, 2-4 December. Further details, including a link
to the livestream, will be released in due course. The final version of the
paper, with discussion and responses by the authors, will be published some
time in 2025.
Written
contributions to the discussion
Two
invited discussants will open questions. In addition, we welcome general
contributions to the discussion (particularly from members of SSA and NZSA) to
be sent in writing at any time before 17 December 2024. Contributions received
before 29 November from those unable to attend may be read at the meeting, if
time allows. Comments should not exceed 400 words in length (not including any
tables, reference details and figures). They should be sent as a PDF (with
accompanying Latex source code, figures etc.) to the Editor-in-Chief, Professor
Martin Hazelton, martin.hazelton@otago.ac.nz
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Message from Karen Lamb, Presenter I was invited by the SSA Early Career and Students Network and New Zealand Statistical Association to deliver a webinar on 28th October on ‘Presenting effectively at mixed-mode events’. From 2020, we had to pivot quickly to hosting meetings and delivering presentations online, using Zoom, Teams or some other environment. While this proved challenging in many ways, we found ways to adapt to this environment. In the last couple of years, many conferences and events have continued to allow online participation while encouraging in-person presence where possible. This has many advantages, ensuring greater equity in access to events. However, we are still learning about how to accommodate people – both presenters and audience members – in this format. While much of the success of hybrid events depends on the event set-up and technology, there are some things presenters can do to ensure they reach both online and in-person audiences. In my presentation, I provided some tips for both presenters delivering online presentations and those delivering in-person presentations at mixed-mode or hybrid events. For those presenting online, my key tips included i) avoiding distractions by ensuring that people at work or home know you are delivering a presentation; ii) finding methods to elaborate on your key messages that work for you, using pre-prepared visuals if needed; iii) asking people to keep their video on if possible to allow you to see your audience; iv) allowing opportunities for interaction (e.g., quizzes, breakout sessions if your event allows it); v) checking your video and other settings in advance to ensure you can be clearly seen and heard; vi) presenting to the camera and avoiding reading off the screen; and vii) having a back-up internet source (e.g., mobile hotspot) if possible. For those presenting in-person, my key tip is to remember you have two audiences and to ensure that you engage with both the in-person and online audience. Make sure i) you are aware where the camera is in the room you will be presenting in and consider it an audience member; ii) consider the range of the microphone and make sure you don’t stray away from this during your presentation; iii) ensure any interactions in your talk consider both audience types; iv) make sure online and in-person audience can ask questions, where possible. Finally, irrespective of the mode of presentation, I strongly encourage presenters to include their email address on their final slide to allow people to interact with them about their presentation after the event. Most importantly, irrespective of how you will be presenting, spend time preparing and try to enjoy the presentation! |
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Understanding how mutations affect diseases
The human genetic code is fully mapped out, providing scientists with a blueprint of the DNA to identify genomic regions and their variations responsible for diseases. Traditional statistical tools effectively pinpoint these genetic 'needles in the haystack,' yet they face challenges in understanding how many genes contribute to diseases, as seen in diabetes or schizophrenia.
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Partner with SSA Interested to partner with us from a simple event sponsorship, conferences or long-term collaboration, please reach out to Jodi Phillips at events@statsoc.org.au . |
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SSA Early Career & Student Statistician Conference
18 - 21 November 2024 | Perth | Hobart | Christchurch
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Getting closer! With an incredible program featuring keynote presentations, networking opportunities, a workshop, and tours across all three hubs, there’s so much to look forward to.
Join us! Whether you're a student, early-career statistician, or established professional, this conference provides an excellent platform to connect, gain mentorship, and share innovative ideas in the field of statistics.
Conference Highlights
Workshop and panel discussions
Opportunities for presenting your own research Exciting tour in all three hubs
Register now to secure your spot!
Registrations close 10 Nov 2024
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. |
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SSA SA
October Branch Meeting - Estimands in Clinical Trials
31 Oct 2024 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (ACDT) | Online
The South Australian Branch of the Statistical Society
invites you to the October session of the 2024 program! Join us for an
insightful presentation on Estimands in Clinical Trials
with Anneke Grobler and Francesca Orsini from the Murdoch Children’s Research
Institute.
In
this talk we will give a short introduction to the estimand framework,
highlighting what is new. We will then illustrate the use of the estimand
framework with a trial recently done in our unit. This was the BRACE trial,
that was the winner of the 2024 ACTA STInG Excellence in Trial Statistics
Award.
Online
via the following Zoom link:
https://adelaide.zoom.us/j/85988096449?pwd=cY06ggLbZ87NUQy5ssCeeOa002FD4e.1
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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.
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The WA Branch of the Statistical Society of Australia invites you to our November meeting featuring guest speaker Adam Bretherton from the Queensland Institute of Technology. Join us on Tuesday, 12 November 2024, at 6:00 PM in Room 002 (Innovation Hub) at Murdoch University for his presentation titled "Flexible Transformations for Bayesian Score Calibration." Adam will discuss the challenges of using complex mathematical models in real-world systems and present an innovative approach that optimises approximate models while minimising computational costs. Refreshments will be available from 5:30 PM, and all attendees are welcome to join Adam for dinner at Bateman Chinese Eating House at 7:30 PM.
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SSA NSW
Branch 2024 Annual Event with JB Douglas Award and Annual Lecture by Prof. Matt
Wand
14 Nov 2024 | 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Sutherland Room, The University of
Sydney
Please join
us for the NSW SSA branch annual event on Thursday 14th November at the
Sutherland Room, The University of Sydney from 2pm. The afternoon will
start with presentations from PhD students from around NSW for the J. B.
Douglas Awards. We are then proud to present our Annual Lecture by Distinguished
Professor Matt Wand at 6pm, followed by the Annual dinner from 7pm.
We hope to
see everyone there.
Program
overview
2.00pm –
6:00pm – J. B. Douglas Award presentations (with refreshment break)
6.00pm –
7.00pm – Annual lecture by Professor Matt Wand
7.00pm –
Annual dinner
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SSA WA End
of Year Function (joint with ECSSC2024)
19 Nov 2024 | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM (AWST) | Boston Brewery Co, 660 Albany
Highway, Victoria Park, WA 6100
Members and guests are warmly invited to the 2024
WA Branch End of Year Function.
This year our function will coincide with the
social function for the Perth Hub of ECSSC2024. Join us for the opportunity to
mingle with members and conference delegates in an informal evening of drinks
and finger food.
The WA Branch is partially subsidising the cost for
WA Branch members.
NB: ECSSC2024 delegates should register through
the conference event page.
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SSA Vic
& Tas November Social Event
26 Nov 2024 | 6:00 PM | Boulder Lab, 260-266 Barkly St, Brunswick AND
Baba Hawker, 148 Sydney Rd, Brunswick
Join us for an evening of bouldering and dinner in Melbourne.
Schedule
6:00PM - 7:00PM bouldering at Boulder Lab, Brunswick
7:30PM - 9:00PM, dinner at Baba Hawker, Brunswick
You can register for one or both activities.
Cost
Both activities are at your own cost, to be paid at
the venue on the night.
Bouldering: $22 (full price), $20 (student), $7
(shoe hire). See Boulder Lab website for full details.
Dinner: See menu for an indication of prices.
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Statistical Consulting Network Monthly Meet-Up
29 Nov 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 Slack Workspace link
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2025 Statistical Training Courses
The Statistical Society is excited to announce the opening of registration for the 2025 Statistical Training Courses in collaboration with the Social Research Centre and the International Program in Survey and Data Science (IPSDS). This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on statistical training through a prestigious program jointly offered by the University of Mannheim and the Joint Program in Survey Methodology at the University of Maryland.
Course Highlights: Places are limited for each course, so we encourage early registration to secure a spot and take advantage of early bird and multiple course registration discounts. Here’s a preview of the courses on offer:
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Sampling I
Date: 6 February – 3 April 2025 Schedule: Thursdays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM AEDT Format: Online – Weekly 1-hour sessions
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Sampling II
Date: 22 May – 12 June 2025 Schedule: Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM AEDT Format: Online – Weekly 1-hour sessions Special Offer: Register for Sampling I to receive a discount on Sampling II.
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Item Nonresponse and Imputation
Date: 24 June – 15 July 2025 Schedule: Tuesdays, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM AEDT Format: Online – Weekly 1-hour sessions
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Step-by-Step in Survey Weighting
Date: 14 August – 4 September 2025 Schedule: Thursdays, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM AEDT Format: Online – Weekly 1-hour sessions
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Introduction to Big Data & Machine Learning
Date: 26 August – 16 September 2025 Schedule: Tuesdays, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM AEDT Format: Online – Weekly 1-hour sessions
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Machine Learning II
Date: 14 October – 2 December 2025 Schedule: Tuesdays, Weekly 1-hour sessions Register for Introduction to Big Data & Machine Learning to receive a discount on Machine Learning II.
We hope you’ll take advantage of these learning opportunities to expand your skills and connect with experts in survey methodology and data science. Whether you're looking to deepen your knowledge in sampling or dive into machine learning, there's a course to meet your goals.
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Extended Deadline for Bayes Comp 2025 Calls
The deadline for invited session and satellite workshop proposals for Bayes Comp 2025, to be held at National University of Singapore (NUS) June 16-20 2025, has been extended. Proposals will be accepted until midnight on November 8, 2024. The results will be announced by the end of November 2024. A call for individual contributed oral presentations and posters will be made early in 2025. |
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R-Ladies Sydney -Make your analysis shine with {gtsummary}
6 Nov 2024 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Nous Group 60 Margaret St, Level 34 · Sydney and Online
RLadies Sydney co-organiser Kristy will tell us everything she knows about the gtsummary R package!
The {gtsummary} package provides an elegant and flexible way to create publication-ready analytical and summary tables using the R programming language. The {gtsummary} package summarizes data sets, regression models, and more, using sensible defaults with highly customizable capabilities.
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Spatial
Statistics 2025: At the Dawn of AI
15 Jul 2025 (CEST) – 18 Jul 2025 (CEST) | NH Leeuwenhoorst, Noordwijk,
The Netherlands
During the Spatial Statistics 2025 conference
in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, specific attention will be given to the
opportunities, including challenges to be addressed, that Artificial
Intelligence (AI) opens up and how spatial statistics can be developed further
with AI.
The latest developments in spatial statistics will
be presented, emphasising their contributions at the dawn of AI, now and in the
future. The optimal use of collected data, predicting in space and time, object
recognition and segmentation, and transferability in the presence of spatial
and temporal correlations are typical, but not exhaustive examples.
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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.
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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:
| Deadline for Invited Paper Sessions |
15th July 2024 |
| Deadline for Contributed Papers |
15th Aug 2024 |
| Invited paper contributors informed of outcome |
31st July 2024 |
| Contributed paper authors informed of outcome |
9th Sept 2024 |
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| Registration opens |
15th July 2024 |
| Deadline for early registration |
23rd Sept 2024 |
For questions contact: John Boland john.boland@unisa.edu.au
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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. |
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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!
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