New Zealand Statistical Association Newsletter 65
March 2007
Editorial - Geoff Jones
I subscribe to a couple of statistics-oriented email lists (allstat and anzstat). Occasionally someone posts a question on statistics. Very, very occasionally, it's on a topic I think I know something about, and I fire off a quick reply. At these times, I'm visited by an image of the statistical community as a giant brain, and myself as one little neuron relaying messages from one part to another. It’s nice to imagine the buzz of messages gradually coalescing into new thoughts, maybe new theories or new ways of analyzing data.
A sound, healthy brain is one with lots of good connections, so that messages can be relayed efficiently and appropriately, enabling great thoughts to be made. A less efficient brain is so full of messages about Nigerian bullion and jobs in the pharmaceuticals industry that it can hardly think straight. So good communication requires good connections, and good relaying decisions.
This newsletter is also a communication, but of a rather slower sort than the hastily-written email. Perhaps, stretching the medical analogy, more like a hormone. I hope you find something in here to stimulate you.
I'd like to thank all the members who have contributed articles and photographs.
(They will have noticed that I don’t usually thank them by return
email, for non-proliferation reasons as above). In this issue two ongoing
dialogues are continued, one on the future of the Australia and New Zealand
Journal of Statistics, the other on the place of Statistics in the National
Curriculum. The achievements of some of our members are celebrated in
the Awards section. And the Local News keeps you up to date with recent
developments in other parts of the “brain”. But the main business
in this issue is the forthcoming NZSA conference in Christchurch on 4th
July, followed by a two-day conference on 5-6th July in honour of John
Deely. This an opportunity to make, or to strengthen, some of those connections
I was talking about. See you there!
Geoff Jones
Geoff
NZSA Web Site
The NZSA website, now hosted by the Royal Society of New Zealand at http://nzsa.rsnz.org/index.shtml, has recently been updated. Please send any feedback to Roger Littlejohn.
NZSA Membership rates
Given rates apply from April 2007 - March 2008 and are in NZ$.
| NZ | Overseas | |
| Ordinary | 75 | 80 |
| Student & Retired | 37.50 | 42.50 |
| No paper journal (electronic only) | -5 | -5 |
| SSAI members (journal funded from SSAI membership) | 45 | 50 |
New members
A warm welcome to 8 new members of the NZSA who have
joined since September 2006, taking our current membership to 403.
Regular members: Rachel Harrison, Sheryn Canter, Michelle Wood, Edward
Abraham, Mark Wohlers.
Student members: Marissa Isidro, Pritibha Singh, Michael Hayward.
To join the NZSA, visit http://nzsa.rsnz.org/form.php.
Campbell Bequest Fund
The NZSA was the recipient of a very generous donation ($48,000) from Professor Campbell’s estate.
There is roughly $1500 funding available each year for special projects that are in the realm of Professor Campbell’s interests. Refer to http://nzsa.rsnz.org/funding.shtml for more details.
The fund has now grown to over $59,000 with accumulated interest since 2001.
Applications are received twice a year (April/October) and are invited for funding for projects in 2007/08. There is no formal application process but please supply details of your project, the full project budget, the amount you are requesting, a short statement about why your project is within Professor Campbell’s interests, and your full contact details.
Please send your applications to the Secretary, David Fletcher (fletcher@maths.otago.ac.nz), NZSA, PO Box 1731, Wellington. . For more details contact Jennifer Brown (j.brown@math.canterbury.ac.nz) or Harold Henderson (harold.henderson@agresearch.co.nz).
Jennifer Brown
Submissions to the Newsletter
The Newsletter welcomes any submissions of interest to members of the New Zealand Statistical Association. News about New Zealand statisticians, statistical meetings, statistical organisations, statistics in education, or statistical curiosities are suitable for inclusion. Letters that raise issues of importance to statistics in New Zealand are also welcomed. Photographs of recent gatherings and new appointees are of particular interest. Electronic submissions are preferred and you may use this link.
Next deadline 24 August 2007.
Advertising in the Newsletter
The Newsletter accepts advertising of interest to statisticians in New Zealand. Advertising is placed subject to space considerations. Personal advertising by NZSA members will be published free. Other advertising is $250 per page, $140 per half page, and $75 per quarter page. Other sizes can be quoted on request. All advertising requests should be directed to the editor.
Editor
Geoff Jones
IIS&T Massey University
Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Phone: 06 350 5779; Fax: 06 350 2261
Email:
g.jones@massey.ac.nz
