Mathematical Sciences Institutes Revisited
Keith Crank, ASA Assistant Director of Research and Graduate Education
A
s many of you know, the Division of surveys. (These percentages come from a plan for expansion, as well as a plan for
Mathematical Sciences (DMS) at the removing the biostatistics PhDs.) And this operating the institute during the expan-
National Science Foundation funds a percentage is probably too low, as statistics sion. Even if space is plentiful, some thought
number of ‘math institutes’ to enhance departments respond at a much lower rate needs to go into whether it fits the needs of
research in the mathematical sciences. These than math departments and no adjustment an institute.
institutes generally run topical programs on a is made for nonresponse. Fourth, one needs a scientific advisory
yearly or semester basis and cover much of the So, the evidence suggests there should board. This should be national or interna-
mathematical sciences, including statistics. either be more statistics programs at the tional in scope and be used to help gen-
(For more information about the institutes, math institutes or more institutes for statis- erate ideas for institute programs. The
you can visit their joint web page at www. tics. As the former is unlikely, I will con- members of this board should be promi-
mathinstitutes.org. This also provides links to centrate on how to increase the number nent researchers. This will provide credibil-
the individual institutes funded by DMS and of statistics institutes. With a new solicita- ity that the institute will encourage high-
other math institutes around the world.) tion recently issued by DMS, the time to quality research in areas of current interest
In looking over these institutes, only get organized is now. Proposals are due and that it will be a national resource for
one (SAMSI) can be identified as a ‘statis- February 27, 2009. (The solicitation is avail- researchers in the areas of focus.
tics institute.’ (In the list of international able at www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08565/ There are myriad other details that are
institutes, Eurandom appears to be the nsf08565.htm?govDel=USNSF_25.) important when preparing a proposal for a
only one that would represent the statistics In planning for an institute proposal, statistics institute. These include manage-
discipline.) While some of the others are one first needs an idea for an institute ment, inclusion of junior researchers and
students, budgets, and travel.
If you are interested in submitting an
null
institute proposal to NSF and would like to
The evidence suggests there should either be more discuss it with me, send me an email with
statistics programs at the math institutes or more
your contact information so we can arrange
a time to talk. To contact me, send an email
institutes for statistics.
null
to keith@amstat.org. Questions or comments
about this article, as well as suggestions for
future articles, are always welcome. n
expected to include statistical topics, it is that is distinct from those already existing.
seldom that this happens. The Institute for Focusing on a specific area of statistics or
Advanced Study has not had a program on application is one way of doing this. But,
a statistical topic for the last 20 years, nor the focus cannot be too narrow. The focus
are any planned in the next two years. The must be broad enough to include a large
Abraham Wald Prize
American Institute of Mathematics held a portion of the statistics community and be
Ceremony in
week-long workshop on a statistical topic sustainable for more than 2–3 years.
in 2003. The Institute for Mathematics and Second, there need to be nationally (bet-
Sequential Analysis
Its Applications had a year-long program ter yet, internationally) recognized leaders
When: Tuesday, August 5, 2008
on a statistical topic in 2003–2004. The in the field who are willing to manage the
12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics institute. An institute generally has a direc-
has included statistics as a relevant disci- tor and one or more associate directors. In
Where: JSM 2008, Colorado
pline in some of its applied programs. The addition to their scientific expertise, these
Convention Center, Room 101
Mathematical Biosciences Institute has had people need to have organizational and
one year-long program that was primarily managerial skills. They also need to recog- Everyone attending JSM is invited.
of interest to statistics. The Mathematical nize that they may need to sacrifice some of
Sciences Research Institute has a program their own research time to make the insti-
For more information, contact
on statistics about once every 10 years. tute operate effectively.
Nitis Mukhopadhyay at
SAMSI, of course, runs programs that are Third, one needs the support of the
nitis.mukhopadhyay@uconn.edu.
primarily on statistical topics. university(ies) and department(s) involved.
Organizer and Chair: Nitis Mukhopadhyay,
Overall, it appears statistics is repre- Space and personnel are big issues in plan-
University of Connecticut, Storrs, and
sented in 10%–15% of the programs run ning an institute. It is essential to have Sequential Analysis editor
by these institutes. But, statistics makes up written agreements about what the univer-
22%–25% of the PhDs in the mathemati- sity and department will provide. If space
Sponsored by Taylor & Francis and Sequential Analysis
cal sciences, according to the past five AMS is already in short supply, there needs to be
JULY 2008 AMSTAT NEWS 13
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