Context: The ever-increasing demands for statistical analysis in the areas of science, government, and business that involve massive databases, have helped to fuel a dramatic increase in the visibility and identity in the fields of statistics and data science over the past decade. Nonetheless, many more people, especially decision makers, need to know that statistics is the science of learning from data and of measuring, controlling and communicating uncertainty. They need to understand what statisticians do and the benefits of engaging a statistician. The need to heighten public awareness remains in sectors like media, medicine, industry, government and science, but it is also essential to ensure the engagement of statistics in the emerging areas of business analytics and data science.
Objective: Elevate public awareness of the role of statistics and the benefits of engaging statisticians, so that ASA is the "face of statistics" to the public and a leader in ensuring public statistical literacy.
Strategies: (a) Make our case to the public by developing and highlighting stories about the impact of statistics on people’s lives; (b) Enhance collaborations with media; (c) Heighten use of digital platforms and social media to enhance the profile of statistics, (e.g., stats.org, ThisIsStatistics.org, and Stats and Stories); (d) Strengthen the ability and opportunity of ASA members to engage with and advise the media, respond to media requests and create media opportunities for promoting statistics (e.g., statisticians giving TED talks); (e) Identify more opportunities like the p-value statement to communicate the importance of good statistical practice and (f) Enrich our collaborative relationships with statistical and other scientific associations.