Outreach & Initiatives > Science Policy

Projects

The ASA is developing a series titled "Statistical Significance" to highlight to policy makers the important contributions that statisticians make to society, from healthcare and economy to national security and the environment. For more information, see www.amstat.org/outreach/statsig.cfm.

The ASA is working to have statistical literacy promoted in the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind). To support this effort, the ASA has launched a statistical literacy grassroots campaign and requests that you meet with your U.S. representative in his/her home district later this summer or early this fall about statistical literacy. For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.amstat.org/outreach/statliteracy/index.cfm?fuseaction=literarygrassrootscampaign.

The ASA is actively working to support the federal statistical agencies, through work with other stakeholders, the ASA Board, and others. Read more at our Support of Federal Statistical System page.

The ASA is working with other groups on election integrity issues. Read more at our Election Auditing Resource Page.

• Arlene Ash and Philip Stark: Thinking Outside the Urn, June 2009.
• The ASA issues position on electoral integrity: 3/17/08 news release
• The ASA endorses Election Auditing Principles, 9/15/08
• Election Auditing Resource Page

The ASA is advocating for more money for basic research by pushing for funding for science. (See also the Letter Signed and Sent page).

• The ASA organizes briefing for Blue Dog science staffers with help of Task Force
• PowerPoint Presentation

The ASA joins other science and engineering groups to encourage more scientists and engineers to enter public office.

• Amstat News article about ASA members in public office

The ASA is advising Congress on climate change issues, with special emphasis on the roles of statistics and statisticians in advancing science and informing policy.

• ASA Advisory Committee on Climate Change Policy (ACCCP)
• May 11, 2010 Climate Science briefing, "Climate Science: Key Questions and Answers", with ASA fellow, Richard L Smith