Viral Statistical Capacity Building | Stats + Stories Episode 293 (Live From the WSC)
Aug 31, 2023
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Matthew Shearing and David Stern discuss capacity building, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing in the field of statistics. They emphasize the importance of teaching statistics, open educational resources, and supporting bottom-up initiatives. The podcast also explores community support in COVID interventions, building tech for marginal groups, and the future of capacity efforts.
Collaboration and knowledge sharing among professionals from different sectors are crucial for addressing challenges related to artificial intelligence and the evolving data landscape.
Capacity building initiatives should focus on partnerships, open educational resources, and localized approaches to catch people up with the latest knowledge in statistics and data science.
Deep dives
Capacity Building at the International Statistical Institute
The podcast episode highlights the importance of capacity building in the field of statistics and data science. Matthew Sheering, a director at Clode Consultants and co-chair of the Capacity Building Committee at the International Statistical Institute (ISI), discusses the significance of ISI as a global platform for professionals passionate about statistics. Sheering emphasizes the need for professionals from different sectors and disciplines to collaborate and share knowledge in the modern data ecosystem. He provides an example of how the ISI can use its expertise in ethics and official statistics to address challenges related to artificial intelligence. The discussion highlights the potential impact of capacity building and the importance of skills like communication and leadership for statisticians in the evolving data landscape.
Open Educational Resources and Capacity Building
David Stern, a co-founder of I State and former vice president of the International Association for Statistical Education, joins the podcast to discuss capacity building in the context of education. Stern emphasizes the need to catch people up with the latest knowledge in statistics and data science through capacity building initiatives. He highlights the power of open educational resources, particularly those with automated feedback, in providing quality education at scale. Stern explains the importance of partnerships and collaboration in sustaining capacity building efforts. He also shares examples of successful initiatives that have been driven by individuals and communities, emphasizing the need for localized and adaptable approaches to capacity building.
Building for Adaptability and Embracing the Margins
The conversation explores new approaches to capacity building, focusing on adaptability and inclusivity. Stern highlights the need to design courses and educational resources in a way that allows for customization and adaptation to different contexts. He emphasizes the importance of building systems and organizations that enable adaptability and support customization. Stern also discusses the concept of building for the margins, where capacity building efforts aim to address the needs of underserved communities and promote inclusivity. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the role of professional societies like the ISI in promoting and sustaining capacity building initiatives.
Future Outlook: Viral Capacity Building and Modular Approaches
The podcast ends with a discussion on the future of capacity building efforts. The concept of viral capacity building is introduced, highlighting the importance of interventions that have a greater impact and can spread rapidly. The conversation also emphasizes the need for modular approaches to capacity building, where resources are designed to be adaptable and customizable. The ISI Academy is mentioned as a potential platform for promoting adaptability and customization in capacity building. The podcast concludes by emphasizing the role of societies and organizations in supporting capacity building and the need for ongoing collaboration and innovation in the field.
Matthew Shearing is a private sector consultant working globally in partnership with the public, private and not-for-profit sectors on improving official statistics and other data systems, Monitoring and Evaluation, and embedding official statistics standards in wider international development.
David Stern is a Mathematical Scientist and Educator. He is a former lecturer in the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences at Maseno University in Kenya and a founding board member of African Maths Initiative (AMI).
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