Practical Significance

The title for this episode is a question familiar to ChatGPT users and signals the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the world around us. Tian Zheng, Hongtu Zhu, and Mark Glickman join co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to discuss the implications of AI for our profession. Building on a 2023 workshop on statistics and AI in health care, Tian, Hongtu, and colleagues recently hosted an ASA townhall during which they discussed the impact of AI on the statistical community. Mark is chair of the ASA Committee on Data ...

March 14 is Pi Day and the International Day of Mathematics (and Statistics), which has the theme “Play with Math” this year. Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein knew there was no better way to play with math and statistics than to talk with members of the ASA Statistics in Sports Section—chair Guanyu Hu and communications officer Denise Bradford.
Bradford, senior data scientist for the Detroit Pistons, and Hu, assistant professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, bring their “A” game to the show as ...

Practical Significance co-hosts Donna Lalonde and Ron Wasserstein kick off season four by welcoming the editor of Real World Data Science, Brian Tarran, to the show. A new initiative from the Royal Statistical Society in partnership with the ASA, Real World Data Science features content developed by data scientists. Tarran’s aim is for the site to be a trusted, go-to source for high-quality and engaging content that supports ethical and impactful practice.
Because the target audience for Real World Data Science is all who work in data science, Tarran learned ...

As Practical Significance celebrates the end of its third year, we want to express how grateful we are for our devoted listeners. Thank you! We also mark a special podcast tradition this month by speaking with outgoing ASA board members. Co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein “go live” from the second floor of the ASA building during the 2023 fall board meeting, and retiring board members Catherine (Kate) Calder, Kathy Ensor, Alexandra (Alex) Hanlon, Ruixiao Lu, Matilde Kam, and *Bin Nan take the mic.
Listen in as they share anecdotes and ...

The ASA is stronger because of the perspectives and experiences international members bring to our community. This month, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein talk with Ingrid Van Keilegom, international representative to the ASA Board, and Afia Owusu-Forfie, founder and executive director of Coders Who Travel, about initiatives and resources that support international members.
Van Keilegom, a statistics professor at KU Leuven in Belgium, highlights the work of the Committee on International Relations in Statistics. She also addresses initiatives important to our international members, including webinars, accreditation, a reduction in fees ...