Afternoon Talk: Statistics, Science, and Public Policy

2000 Fall Kickoff

Afternoon Talk:
Statistics, Science, and Public Policy

Abstract:

This title, borrowed from a series of conferences organized by Dr. Agnes Herzberg, captures the essence of the societal need for statistical competence across a very broad range of problems. The biggest need is for deep understanding of basic statistical concepts, though the tools of mathematical statistics can also be helpful. Examples will include measuring the health effects of air pollution, understanding the Gulf War Syndrome, assessing the public impact of distributing federal tax dollars for use by the states, the costs and benefits of legal gambling, and other things. There are surprising commonalities in the statistical issues: In every case, the data are vast in scope, highly complex, generally of poor quality -- and not what we want anyway. Statistics provides the best guide through these matters.