Stats + Stories

Being able to create compelling data visualizations is an expectation of a diverse array of fields, from sports to journalism to education. But learning how to create charts that spark joy can be difficult if you're not confident in your abilities. A recent book is designed to help people become more comfortable creating compelling charts, and it's the focus of this episode of Stats and Stories with guest Alli Torban.

The democratic engine of the United States relies on accurate and reliable data to function. A year-long study of the 13 federal agencies involved in U-S data collection – including the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Center for Education Statistics – suggests that the nation’s statistics are at risk. The study was produced by the American Statistical Association in partnership with George Mason University and supported by the Sloan Foundation and is the focus of this episode of Stats+Stories

The history of statistics is filled with interesting facts about the development of the field and stories of the people who helped shape it. A new column at CHANCE magazine will explore the history of stats which is the focus of this episode of Stats+Stories with guest Chiatra Nagaraja

Matthew Shearing is a private sector consultant working globally in partnership with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors on improving official statistics and other data systems, Monitoring and Evaluation, and embedding official statistics standards in wider international development.

David Stern is a Mathematical Scientist and Educator. He is a former lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences at Maseno University in Kenya and a founding board member of African Maths Initiative (AMI).

Natalie Shlomo is Professor of Social Statistics since joining the faculty in September 2012. She was the head of the Department of Social Statistics (2014-2017). Her research interests are in topics related to survey statistics and survey methodology. She is the UK principle investigator for several collaborative grants from the 7th Framework Programme and H2020 of the European Union all involving research in improving survey statistics and dissemination. She was the principle investigator for the ESRC grant on theoretical sample designs for a new UK birth cohort and co-investigator for the NCRM grant focusing on non-response in biosocial research. She was also principle investigator for the Leverhulme Trust International Network Grant on Bayesian Adaptive Survey Designs. She is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute and a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. She is an elected council member (to 2021) and Vice-President (to 2019) of the International Statistical Institute. She serves on editorial boards of several journals as well as national and international advisory boards.