10%) of the total discretionary funding of the feder-
al government for 2009. With a federal budget that
was already tight before the financial crisis, it will
be difficult to come up with new funding for these
“
How seriously Obama treats science may be
proposals, leaving the administration little alter- judged by his response to the community’s
native but to find the funding by cutting existing
programs. While there is no question that the new
urging that the science advisor position be
administration will have different priorities than the
elevated to cabinet status.
current administration, it is doubtful it will be able
”
to fund all its promises in the first year. The fiscal
year 2010 budget request, expected in the spring,
will be very telling.
It is safer to assume quick action on the policy
isticians to make our case. We must educate poli-
front, where funding is not the primary obstacle.
cymakers about what statisticians can do
One can expect changes to policies on cli-
to address the various challenges our
mate change and federal funding for
country faces. Policymakers and
stem cell research. Obama also has
their staffs have little knowledge
promised to respect the indepen-
appreciation for the powerful
dence of scientists, an issue many
tools of statistics.
scientists have had with the Bush
I recently accompanied
administration (and the origins of
some of our members to
the references above to the “war
meetings with congressional
on science”). One also can expect
committee staffers to discuss
quick environmental actions and a
climate change issues. The
greater emphasis on energy efficien-
concepts of decision support,
cy, conservation, and alternative ener-
uncertainty management, and
gies within the federal government.
the many other assets statisticians
Obama’s appointments to date are
can bring to the table were new to the
encouraging. Perhaps in response to calls for an
staff. Unfortunately, the ASA also was new to them.
early appointment, Obama has already selected
On the bright side, the congressional staff welcomed
John Holdren of Harvard University as his science
the meetings with ASA members and the contribu-
advisor. (The ASA signed a letter supporting such
tions we can make.
an early appointment. The letter, signed by 178
Obama’s position on science’s independence
organizations, further urges that the science advi-
could bode well for the federal statistical agencies,
sor position be elevated to cabinet status.) The
for which autonomy is a key issue. As one exam-
Obama team also has selected PhD scientists to
ple, the ASA Board just endorsed Rep. Carolyn
head the Department of Energy and NOAA and
Maloney’s (D-NY) bill to make the U.S. Census
is expected to create a chief technology officer.
Bureau an independent agency, removing it from
the auspices of the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Opportunity for the Statistical
and she is expected to reintroduce her bill in the
Community
111th Congress. Supporting this bill will be one of
The Obama campaign was known for its savvy,
the ASA’s priorities in the new Congress. To promote
innovative strategies and sophisticated use of tech-
the autonomy of the federal statistical agencies, we
nology. We can expect science- and evidence-based
need to educate Congress and the new administra-
decisions to prevail in the Obama administration.
tion about the invaluable role of the federal statisti-
Further, Nate Silver’s
fivethirtyeight.com and other
cal system and the importance of insulation from
sites raised the profile for the power of statistics.
outside influence.
While I found no evidence, I would speculate that
We have our work cut out for us to raise the pro-
the Obama campaign used elements of analytics—
file of the statistics discipline and statisticians. But,
beyond data mining—in its campaign. What, if
we have considerable contributions to make and we
anything, does this environment portend for the
will be working in a favorable environment. If you
statistics community?
have any comments, I can be reached by email at
I contend that this respect for science and its
pierson@amstat.org. n
potential provides significant opportunities for
statisticians. However, it is incumbent upon stat-
JANUARy 2009 AMsTAT NeWs 17
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