Report of the Council for 2013

Abstract

President’s foreword 2013 was the International Year of Statistics and what a year it was for the Society. The adoption of our long-term strategy for 2014–2018 has provided a great energy boost, giving renewed focus to what we do. Many thanks are due to Andy Garrett and all the members of the Long Term Strategy Group for what they have done for us, drawing on the contributions of large numbers of Society members from around the world. Our future direction is summed up in the three words that now appear on our letterheads: ‘Data | Evidence | Decisions’. We are about putting data at the heart of understanding and decision making. After a period of declining numbers, we saw membership rise during the year. It was especially pleasing to see almost 100 lapsed members return to the Society—welcome back. Our conference in Newcastle drew over 400 people from 23 countries. There was a real buzz throughout, helped by the strong presence of members of the Young Statisticians Section. Our 12 Sections and 15 Local Groups held numerous meetings and we substantially raised our level of engagement at external events, including for the first time the political party conferences. 2013 has been a year that has seen us grow in numbers and in influence. Some highlights for me were the 10th anniversary of Significance magazine, the event we held with King’s College London and Ipsos MORI on the ‘Perils of perception’, the closing conference at Errol Street for the International Year of Statistics and, of course, meeting so many members from such diverse backgrounds, all seeking to use statistics and statistical thinking to make an impact for the wider good of society and the economy. Our policy work has made a step change improvement. In the areas of schools education, higher education, official statistics, open access journals, open data, statistics and the law and in other fields, the Society has a voice that gets attention. The ‘getstats’ campaign has moved up a further gear during the year. The campaign’s work with Parliamentarians and journalists has continued to grow. In the critical area of post-16 years education, the publication of Roger Porkess’s report on opportunities for statistics at A level in subjects outside mathematics has provided a new dimension to the evidence base with which to make our case. Academic affairs have had a busy year and, with Kevin McConway’s leadership, we have been able to make common cause with our sister bodies in the Council for the Mathematical Sciences to establish a clearer position to support the long-term future of the discipline. Our professional awards and qualifications continue to improve their standing among statisticians but, also, crucially with employers and others who recognize the importance of professionalism in statistical work. I chaired a session on professional qualifications at the International Statistical Institute conference and it was clear that people around the world look to the Society as a leader in this area. The growing success of our relationships with other statistical societies, notably Japan, is a mark of this and provides an excellent basis for the review of this area that is to take place in 2014. I have also been pleased this year to see the important improvements that have been made to the Society's communications work. The launch of StatsLife has given us a vibrant, readable and worthy successor to RSS News. Our social media profile has changed beyond all recognition over the last 12 months. Plans made in 2013 and now being implemented hold the prospect of an even more engaging Society in the year ahead. Do read the rest of this inspiring report. 2013 was an excellent year for the Society. I would like to thank all the Society’s staff and the very many members who have given so much to make it so. John Pullinger