New Building, Exciting Programs for SAMSI
Jamie Nunnelly, Communications Director, NISS/SAMSI
Joseph from Triangle Residential Options for
Substance Abuse (TROSA) helps SAMSI move
into the new wing of the NISS building. TROSA
is a comprehensive, long-term, residential
substance abuse recovery program located in
Durham, North Carolina.
and those used as statistical representations of other processes. The
program will center on the sub-themes of environmental map-
ping, spatial epidemiology, and climate change, which are inter-
related both in terms of key issues in underlying science and in the
New wing of the National Institute of Statistical Sciences’ (NISS) building
statistical and mathematical methodologies needed to address the
science. The program will run from September 2009 through June
2010. Researchers from statistics, applied mathematics, environ-
T
here is even more excitement than usual at the Statistical mental sciences, epidemiology, and meteorology will be involved,
and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI). In providing opportunity for interdisciplinary, methodological, and
November, SAMSI moved into the new wing of the theoretical research.
National Institute of Statistical Sciences’ (NISS) building. This Stochastic Dynamics will be the second major program for
11,782-square-foot addition will more than double SAMSI’s office September 2009 through June 2010. The term “stochastic dynam-
space, relieving the current ‘cozy’ conditions for SAMSI visitors, ics” resonates within many fields in statistics and applied mathemat-
postdocs, graduate students, and local researchers. The new wing ics. The goal of this program is to bring together experts in different
features a state-of-the-art multipurpose workshop facility with but highly inter-related research specializations under the broader
classroom, conference rooms, and laptop stations for visitors. The umbrella of stochastic dynamics to enable collaborations with the
adjoining foyer and patio provide gathering places during work- potential for exciting research advances. Participation is anticipated
shop breaks, and the second-floor commons room opens to a roof- not only from the traditional pool of mathematics and statistics, but
top terrace overlooking woods. SAMSI looks forward to welcom- also from engineering, biology, physics, and health sciences.
ing you to the new facilities. Researchers in stochastic dynamics come from varied disci-
SAMSI’s two major 2008–2009 programs, Sequential Monte plines: the numerical analyst designing algorithms for stochastic
Carlo Methods and Algebraic Methods in Systems Biology and differential equations, the math biologist studying transport on the
Statistics, are well under way. More than 250 people attended the cellular level, the analyst trying to understand the effect of sto-
opening workshops in September and 11 research working groups chastic forcing and data in dynamic systems, the statistician trying
were formed. These working groups consist of long-term visitors to characterize the statistics of dynamic networks, and the math-
to SAMSI; postdoctoral fellows; local faculty, students, and other ematical modeler trying to bridge the gap between atomistic and
researchers; and nonresident researchers who interact via remote continuum. Unfortunately, the research in a scenario such as the
participation mechanisms. above is not regularly disseminated across the spectrum of statistics
There is still opportunity to participate in these programs. and applied math. This program aims to bridge that gap.
In particular, each program will hold additional workshops SAMSI also runs a series of workshops focused on education and
throughout the year. The workshops already on the SAMSI cal- outreach for undergraduate and graduate students. These include
endar are Discrete Models for Systems Biology (in December); interdisciplinary undergraduate workshops in November, February,
Algebraic Statistical Models (in January); Molecular Evolution and and May associated with this year’s SAMSI programs on Algebraic
Phylogenetics (in April); Adaptive Design, Computer Modeling, Methods in Systems Biology and Statistics and Sequential Monte
and Sequential Monte Carlo (also in April); Transition Workshop Carlo Methods. The Industrial Math/Stat Modeling Workshop
of the Algebra Program (in June); and Transition Workshop of the for Graduate Students will be held in July. SAMSI is also hosting
Sequential Monte Carlo Program (in October). or cosponsoring special workshops, such as the Blackwell-Tapia
In 2009–2010, SAMSI will hold two exciting programs. Space- Conference in November and the Graduate Student Probability
Time Analysis for Environmental Mapping, Epidemiology, and Workshop (at The University of North Carolina) in May.
Climate Change will focus on problems encountered with ran- For more information about the programs, workshops, and
dom space-time fields. It will look at problems that arise in nature opportunities at SAMSI, visit
www.samsi.info. n
6 AMSTAT NEWS DECEMBER 2008
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