Science Policy and ASA

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Science Policy and ASA
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2006/2007 ASA Task Force

• Members from 2006 (all continued into 2007)
• Alicia Carriquiry, Iowa State University
• Ginny de Wolf, Consultant (former federal
  statistician)
• Mary Foulkes, Food and Drug Administration
• Xiao-Li Meng, Harvard University
• Bonnie Ray, IBM
• Simon Sheather, Texas AM University
• John Stufken, University of Georgia

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Composition (contd)

• New member for 2007
• Yasmin Said, Johns Hopkins University
• Liaisons
• Alan Karr, Chair, Federally Funded Research
  Committee
• David Marker, Chair, Scientific and Public
  Affairs Advisory Committee
• Bill Smith, ASA

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Additional Help

• Tom Jabine, ASA Fellow
• AAAS staff
• Mark Frankel, Director, Scientific Freedom,
  Responsibility and Law Program
• Al Teisch, Director, Science Policy Programs

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What is Science Policy?

• Harvey Brooks characterized science policy as
  having two dimensions
• Science-for-policy Concerns how scientific
  data, information, and methods can, and should
  be, used in the formulation and execution of
  public policy.
• Policy-for-science Public policy about the
  conduct of scientific research. This includes
• Federal funding of scientific research
• Federal support for education in the sciences,
  for example, funding of science, technology,
  engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education

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ASAs Mission Statement and Science Policy

• Formalizing and increasing the Associations
  participation in science policy discussions at
  all levels is consistent with ASAs Mission
  Statement. This Statement has six components.
• Science-for-policy is reflected in five
• Support excellence in statistical practice,
  research, journals, and meetings.
• Promote the proper application of statistics.
• Use our discipline to enhance human welfare.
• Anticipate and meet the needs of our members.
• Seek opportunities to advance the statistics
  profession.

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ASAs Mission Statement (contd)

• Policy-for-science is pertinent to four
• Support excellence in statistical practice,
  research, journals, and meetings.
• Work for the improvement of statistical education
  at all levels.
• Anticipate and meet the needs of our members.
• Seek opportunities to advance the statistics
  profession.

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JPBM and Science Policy

• ASA is the only JPBM member that does not have
  formal science policy activities.
• Potential models for ASA Look at the science
  policy activities of our sister associations in
  the JPBM.
• MAA, AMS, and SIAM have science policy
  committees
• ASAs structure of committees, sections, and SIGs
  provide many avenues for science policy
  activities. Not realistic or prudent for ASA to
  centralize its science policy activities.

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JPBM and Science Policy (contd)

• Potential models (contd)
• Hire a government relations firm SIAM uses
  Lewis-Burke. MAA used this firm until the end of
  2006.
• Create a staff position

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Recommendation

• Recommendation Create a full-time position on
  the ASA staff for a science policy professional.

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Recommendation (contd)

• Purposes of the position are to
• (1) increase the participation of ASA and the
  statistical profession in public policy
  discussions at state, national, and international
  levels, in order to promote the use of sound
  statistical methods in the collection and
  analysis of the data on which policy decisions
  are based, and
• (2) ensure that the statistical sciences receive
  an appropriate share of public funds devoted to
  scientific research and education.

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About the Position

• The Task Force recommends that the individual
  hired in this position report directly to the ASA
  Executive Director.
• The ideal candidate must have a background in
  statistics and excellent communication skills,
  with experience working with Congress.
• The individual hired in this position
• will serve as an advocate for statistics and
• will be expected to ensure that the Association
  and its members are represented whenever science
  policy matters of national or international
  importance are discussed.