ASA President Delivers NC State
Commencement Speech
ASA President Sally Morton offered a few astute nuggets of advice during the departmental graduate ceremonies at North Carolina
State University on May 9, 2009. What follows is adapted from that speech.
I
chanced upon a wonderfully Ethical Guidelines state, “Statistics
eloquent commencement plays a vital role in many aspects of
address that was inadvertent- science, the economy, governance,
ly attributed to Kurt Vonnegut, and even entertainment. It is
but actually was written by Mary important that all statistical prac-
Schmich of the Herald Tribune. It titioners recognize their potential
begins, “Wear sunscreen. If I impact on the broader society and
could offer you only one tip for the attendant ethical obligations to
the future, sunscreen would be it. perform their work responsibly.”
The long-term benefits of sun- We move on to “stretch,” and
screen have been proved by sci- that’s an easy one to understand in
entists, whereas the rest of my statistical land—never stop learn-
advice has no basis more reliable ing. Statistics is ideal for stretch-
than my own meandering experi- ing. Every new problem you work
ence.” She went on to give other on presents an opportunity to
From left: ASA President Sally C. Morton, Wayne A. Fuller,
various sage pieces of advice, such learn about new methods and the
and ASA President-elect Sastry Pantula at the NC State
as “floss, stretch, get plenty of science and data that motivate the commencement ceremony. Fuller received an honorary
calcium, and sing.” statistical problem. You will never doctorate during the event.
What I will do now is translate be bored. As an unknown author
those gems into statistical terms. once said, “Your schooling may over the years that a good litmus
Wear sunscreen is “plot your be over, but remember that your test for an analysis plan is to try to
data.” Simply put, don’t trust education still continues.” explain that plan and how to inter-
complicated models as far as you We turn now to getting plenty pret the results to a nonstatistician.
can throw them—protect your- of calcium. Well, to build your If I find myself stumbling, if the
self and examine those data every bones in statistics, I urge you presentation does not have a clear
which way. Are your assump- to stay connected to your com- arc of elucidation, then something
tions correct? What are those munity via a professional soci- is wrong with my analysis plan.
pesky outliers up to? Let the data ety like the American Statistical Learn to sing in different keys and
speak for themselves, rather than Association. As Sastry [Pantula] to do so both as a soloist and as
being masked and manipulated mentioned, I am the 2009 presi- a member of a choir as you work
by complex methods. Use your dent of the ASA, so I am under with your entire project team to
intuition and knowledge of the oath this year to promote the communicate the results of your
underlying science to ask “Do ASA at any opportunity. We seek work. Singing in a choir means
these results make sense?” Do not to serve not only our members, you have to learn to listen, both to
be a sunburned statistician! but also the nation. Professional your fellow choir members and to
The next piece of advice is … society membership is the mark questions from the audience, and
floss. Now, I understand the per- and obligation of a profession- adjust your singing in response.
spective of all the parents here (I al. Please also consider staying Anticipate the ‘headline’ that a
am one myself) and I agree—floss. connected to NC State and the newspaper might use to summa-
But what’s the analog in statistics? Department of Statistics via their rize your work—would that be the
Be ethical, even when no one is alumni groups. Give of your ‘right’ headline? Put yourself in the
looking. Statistical arguments can time, experience, and resources. place of the citizen who will read
be abused, we’ve all heard about Please help mentor the next gen- and try to use your results—what
“lies, damned lies, and statistics.” eration of statisticians. statistical results are important to
Maintain your independence Now we focus on singing. In that person, and how best can you
and scientific objectivity. Stand statistics, we might equate sing- help him or her use those results to
firm and don’t be pushed. As the ing with communicating in non- make a better decision? Remember,
American Statistical Association mathematical terms. I have found you are not the audience. ■
JULY 2009 AMSTAT NEWS 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84