Young Statisticians Strategy Plan 2012 - Netherlands Society for ...

YOUNG STATISTICIANS (YS) DIVISION of the NETHERLANDS SOCIETY FOR
STATISTICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH
(VvS+OR):
Strategy Plan 2012 of the YS
VvS+OR
Second Draft discussed on May 4, 2012
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1. About
We, the Young Statisticians (YS) of the Netherlands Society for Statistics and Operations Research
(VvS+OR) are founded on May 3 2011 in LUMC Leiden with the goal to
“provide a platform for Young Statisticians in order to:
1. broaden their professional network
2. promote the field of statistics,
3. get to know what can be done with statistics in society as well as in science”.
Statistics is a broad discipline. Within the YS-VvS+OR we would like to broaden our knowledge of
statistics and discuss with others the "where" and "how" statistic ought to be applied both in practice
and science. We are a platform that facilitates Young Statisticians to meet each other, companies, and
research institutes within the Netherlands.
At the date of January 1, 2012, we have ±90 members of which ±20 are active. These master-students,
PhD-candidates, Post-Doc researchers, consultants have an age range from 20 years old to 35 years,
and come from diverse disciplines.
2. General Strategy
To pursue our goal we
meet each other (to broaden our professional network)
organize activities, whereas bottom-up initiatives for activities are very very much encouraged
acquire sponsors and benefactors, but remain solely identified as a division of the VvS+OR.
Therefore we operate conform the statutes and rules of the VvS+OR.
grow slowly, but steady, and increase our activity in small steps. There are many ideas.... but we
take the stand that our active members remain motivated best, and transfer their enthusiasm, if
not too many tasks are being done by these volunteers at once. It is the volunteers that keep the
division running.
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3. Strategy 2012
In 2012 we plan to organize at least the similar amount of activities as in 2011, but now in a “little
more” structured environment (infrastructure). Furthermore, we would like to promote ourselves, to
increase in members, and recruit more active members.
3.1 Plans for a better infrastructure and presentation
Board / Overseeing Thingy (OTY)
During the members meeting of the YS on the 12th of february 2012, a board was initiated such that
activities set up by all committees could be monitored, and a proposal can be made for steady
fundaments for long-term policy and regulations within the division of the VvS+OR. Former agendas
of the board can be read at:
Members of the board of the Young Statisticians:
Brunilda Balliu
Katerina Papadimitropoulou
Maarten Kampert
Robert Zwitser
Suzette Matthijsse
Database and newsletter.
A database will contain a list of the active- and non-active members. The members will be kept up-todate
through the newsletter. Memberships can be acquired via e-mail, Facebook, linkedIN, twitter,
website, and activities. In this way e-mail addresses will remain updated. And no people will get
excluded or included again due to sloppiness.
Homepage
A website under the umbrella of the website of the VvS+OR, will be created in order to:
give information about the YS.
promote future events and add materials e.g. documents, photos etc.
Multimedia
In order to promote the Young Statisticians and their activities to a broader public, a personalized
LinkedIn and Facebook page as well as Twitter account will be created and updated regularly. These
pages include notifications and invitations for upcoming events.
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Column in STAtOR.
The editor-in-chief and finalizing editor of STATOR both have agreed upon a column for the Young-
Statisticians to promote themselves. In 2012 we would like to introduce ourselves and describe the
founding process of the Young-Statisticians as well as our short-term future plans, and future dreams.
Acquisition
In order to be a powerful platform for young professionals, strong relationships with companies and
institutions is vitally important. One of the aspects of this relationship may be a financial support of
companies and institutions for the Young Statisticians. The acquisition committee is taking care of
existing relationship, as well as looking for new sponsoring opportunities.
3.2 Committees / Activities
Statistical Science Cafe
A meeting in a Pub on a general subject in Statistics which will attract mostly Young Statisticians in the
Netherlands (± 50 attendants).
Workshop
The workshop committee organizes bi-annual excursions to companies or institutes. These excursions
may be related to a specific statistical topic and may also hold some recruiting activities.
Workgroup Misuse of Statistics
Misuse of statistics is occurring in published research. This committee wants to promote collaboration,
the Young Statisticians and the field of statistics as well as creating a bridge between researchers and
statistical consultants. By targeting young researchers and PhD candidates in many disciplines, it
thrives to promote easy access to consultations and hence decrease the misuse of statistics in research.
Pubmeeting
A yearly meeting where active members get an opportunity to evaluate the YS-
VvS+OR by filling out a SWOT-analysis, new members are recruited to become active, and
members are invited to bring a friend to grow in members ( ±30 attendants).
Book-Market
A few senior members within the VvS+OR would like to give away their books
to the younger members within the society. The Young Statisticians would like to organize a
book-market at which senior members could offer their books and Young Statisticians could get
these books for free.
Members-meeting
In the members-meeting the Young Statisticians will be asked to give advice and agree on the years'
strategy and budget plan. They will also be asked to think along with the board for long-term strategy
and innovative activities and ideas.
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Appendix – Year Report 2011
Activities 2011
Founding Committee Meeting 1 (May 3, 2011): With at group of 22 persons, we discussed
whether there is a market for a Young Statisticians Division within the VvS+OR. Everyone
loved the idea. We decided to communicate that “Statistics can make or break” (goal), that we
are platform at which young professionals can meet each other (target audience), and that we
operate from a bottom-up structure.
Founding Committee Meeting 2 (June 7, 2011): In our second meeting we made a schedule of
actvities with a group of 19 persons: A pubmeeting, a statistical science cafe, and a workshop at
a company.
Pub Meeting (October 27, 2011): The main function of the pubmeeting was to see each other
again and evaluate on the progress of the Young Statisticians in a very informal setting.
Statistical Science Cafe (November 30, 2011): Around 50 visitors (mainly Young Statisticians)
attended a debate on Bayesian vs Frequent statistics by Prof. dr. Herbert Hoijtink and Prof. dr.
Harry van Zanten, respectively. Prof. dr. Richard Gill acted as invited moderator on this debate
at King Arthur in Utrecht.
Workshop Statistics & Chemometrics (January 24, 2012): A visit was organized for 20 Young
Statisticians to attend a workshop at the Statistics and Chemometrics Department at Shell
Global Solutions.
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