Statistics does perhaps have an image problem. Ask people what they think of statistics, and you are likely to get some negative responses. The public does not (very broadly speaking) understand statistics and probability. Neither do many politicians. The media can manipulate statistics and misrepresent data. As a science, statistics is seen as complicated, dull, geeky and even irrelevant.
However all this is to change if the organisers* of Statistics2013 have their way. The International Year of Statistics is to be a year of worldwide celebrations of the contributions of statistical science to the advancement of our society. Over 1400 organisations are taking part. The aims are to make people (i.e. governments, business, policy makers, the media, students, employers, and the public) appreciate the power and impact of statistics, to attract more young people into statistical sciences, and to promote creativity in statistical fields.
The web-site is a gold mine of statistical facts. There is a statistic of the day (Here’s one for VA : There were 7.2 million researchers worldwide in 2007, up from 5.8 million in 2002.) A statistics blog, statisticians job of the week and a section on famous statisticians. Florence Nightingale, for example, was a member of the Royal Statistical Society and one of the first people to collect statistics on health policy.
There are events worldwide, including many in Sweden. And they are popular: for example the SAS Institute breakfast meeting on 19th February is already fully booked.
There will a Dortmund day of statistics in Germany; a public lecture series in Toronto on various aspects of statisitics. Lecture titles include “Is it hot enough for you?” about climate change, and “Statistics: the new sexy?”.
I also recommend following @Statistics2013 on twitter. There are many tweets about events and organisations taking part. And a few funny quotes:
”While it is easy to lie with statistics, it is even easier to lie without them.” Frederick Mosteller
“Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive but what they conceal is vital. A. Levenstein.
*The founding organizations of the International Year of Statistics are the American Statistical Association, Institute of Mathematical Statistics, International Biometric Society, International Statistical Institute (and the Bernoulli Society), and Royal Statistical Society.
