ASA Science Policy Actions
Campaign Project (http://sharp.sefora.org/
campaign-training), an effort to encourage
ASA endorses Election Auditing Principles
scientists and engineers to seek public office
by providing resources and support.
Election Issues Resource page launched, www.amstat.org/scipolicy/index.
Statisticians could play an invaluable role
cfm?fuseaction=earesources
in a variety of causes, not only for providing
ASA helps connect statisticians with election officials and voting
technical input, but for the cachet a statisti-
advocate groups
cian’s involvement can bring. As an exam-
ple, there are many ASA members involved
ASA signs letters in support of funding for NSF, NIH, 2010 Census, and NCHS
in election auditing principles and seeing
ASA joins other groups in submitting comments about proposed changes to
those principles adapted at the local and
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
state levels. (See Page 6) http://electionaudits.
org/principles. These members are providing
ASA endorses H.R. 6314, “Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science
statistical advice to ensure a sound imple-
and Engineering Act of 2008”
mentation of post-election audits.
ASA organizes briefing for congressional “Blue Dog” science staffers with help of
We also have ASA members addressing
Task Force on the American Innovation
global health policy issues on such topics
as HIV/AIDS, job safety, tobacco use, and
For details, see www.amstat.org/scipolicy.
prostitution. We know from our under-
standing of the federal statistical system
that accurate statistical information is fun-
Speak Out: Media—ASA staff members
bills, and administrators seek comments
damental to sound policy formulations.
frequently hear from members about stories
as they develop their regulations. While
in the press that might be lacking statistical
being invited to testify at a hearing is, in
Advisory Committees—There are
soundness or are in contradiction to statisti-
fact, infrequent, providing comments in
roughly 1,000 advisory committees in our
cal reasoning. While I encourage you to con-
the rulemaking process is straightforward.
federal government system whose pur-
tinue pointing these out, I would challenge
The ASA will strive to alert members of
pose is to advise officials in the executive
you to take additional steps, which might
such comment opportunities and I invite
branch. The National Science Foundation
include a letter to the editor, an op-ed, or
you to alert us.
has roughly 17 advisory committees, the
a private communication to the author of
As a side note, I would like to keep a
National Institutes of Health has 145, and
the article.
catalog of our members who have testified
many of the federal statistical agencies have
Such pieces would be most effective if
before Congress. If you have done so, please
at least one. ASA members already serve on
they were constructive in purpose. For
send me a link to your testimony, the com-
many of these committees, but there are
example, in addition to data or studies on
mittee holding the hearing, and the date.
advisory committees that would benefit by
the topic, share with the intended reader the
adding a statistician.
sorts of reasoning or questions a statistician
Be Involved: Fellowships, Public
Because the advisory committee chan-
would bring to the issue. This approach
Office, Causes—The need for technical nel is two-way, I would welcome input to
would move the discussion in a positive
input is a prominent theme of any science guide the ASA’s science policy activities
direction and help readers appreciate what
policy program. The American Association from ASA members who have served on
statisticians do and bring to the table. Feel
for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) advisory committees.
free to contact me for guidance, and cer-
tackles the issue head on by sponsoring PhD
tainly let me know of your actions.
scientists to spend a year working in a con- In summary, there are many ways for
The ASA maintains a list of topic experts
gressional office or federal agency (see http:// ASA members to affect policy, and the
for the media and is a valuable resource for
fellowships.aaas.org). Statisticians would be methods listed here don’t make up an
reporters seeking technical input. Providing
well qualified to work on any of the listed exhaustive list. I welcome your input, espe-
an opinion, technical explanation, or back-
topics: energy, environment, agriculture, cially if you could share your experiences
ground on a topic is an excellent way to
natural resources, health, education, human influencing policy at the local, state, fed-
affect a writer’s article. If you are not listed
services, national defense, global security, eral, or international levels.
and are interested in participating, please go
and diplomacy. The deadline for the 2009– Fundamental to the ASA affecting policy
to www.amstat.org/news/index.cfm?fuseaction
2010 fellowship is December 15. is our action. As a descendant of the afore-
=asaseeksmediaexperts.
Having a statistician on the inside of mentioned ancient philosopher once said,
the policymaking process is a means to “There are those who say they are impor-
Speak Out: Testimony, Comments— short-circuit the process of trying to influ- tant and those who demonstrate they are
There are many steps one can take to ence policymakers. As you read in the important.” May statisticians be the latter.
influence policy other than communicat- August issue of Amstat News, the ASA For more information, contact ASA
ing with policymakers. Legislators hold has at least four members who are elected Director of Science Policy Steve Pierson at
hearings to gather information for their public officials. Also, the ASA is part of The pierson@amstat.org. n
42 AMSTAT NEWS OCTOBER 2008
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