International Statistical Review (2005), 73, 2, 273–273, Printed in Wales by Cambrian Printers c International Statistical Institute Panel on Public Awareness, Professionalism & Professional Accreditation; International Collaboration Stephen M. Stigler University of Chicago, Statistics Department, Chicago, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Outline for Panel Discussion The three topics we discuss on this panel seem to me largely unrelated and of very different degrees of importance to the ISI. In the spirit of generating discussion I will state a provocative view of them. It is common to hear among statisticians that our lot would be much better if only the public were aware of what we really did and its great importance. I agree that what we do is of great importance, but I do not think that we will improve the world by spending time on public relations, nor should we dedicate scarce resources to that end. In any event, such public relations successes as may be achieved are likely superficial and short-lived. On the other hand I do think public education in statistics is very important, although it must be deeper than mere awareness to be useful. Similarly, I believe that professionalism and professional ethics are important, but I have yet to see any gain come from preaching the virtues of professionalism or accrediting statisticians as competent to practice. Indeed, one need look no further than the recent accounting scandals in the US involving Enron, MCI, etc., to see what costs accreditation can impose: in all cases the culprits were fully accredited accountants, and the only role that accreditation served was to lull the public with a false sense of security—and after those scandals I doubt even that will be true again. Accreditation, a modern means of limiting entrance to a profession akin to the guilds of medieval England, leads to complacency and a very low threshold in the definition of competency. The ISI can lead by the examples we set and we can discuss the issues involved in our publications and our biennial sessions, but I would oppose a move to set us up as an accrediting agency. On the other hand, I strongly support the role for the ISI as a facilitator for both international and cross-disciplinary collaboration. We should encourage the arrangement at our meetings (and/or publication in the ISR) of forums discussing topics of current interest: economic issues, sampling issues, public health issues. This is our central mission and should be pursued vigorously. [Received March 2005, accepted May 2005]

Panel on Public Awareness, Professionalism & Professional Accreditation; International Collaboration

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International Statistical Review (2005),73, 2, 273–273, Printed in Wales by Cambrian Printersc© International Statistical Institute

Panel on Public Awareness, Professionalism &Professional Accreditation; InternationalCollaboration

Stephen M. Stigler

University of Chicago, Statistics Department, Chicago, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Outline for Panel Discussion

The three topics we discuss on this panel seem to me largely unrelated and of very differentdegrees of importance to the ISI. In the spirit of generating discussion I will state a provocative viewof them.

It is common to hear among statisticians that our lot would be much better if only the public wereaware of what we really did and its great importance. I agree that what we do is of great importance,but I do not think that we will improve the world by spending time on public relations, nor should wededicate scarce resources to that end. In any event, such public relations successes as may be achievedare likely superficial and short-lived. On the other hand I do think public education in statistics isvery important, although it must be deeper than mere awareness to be useful. Similarly, I believethat professionalism and professional ethics are important, but I have yet to see any gain come frompreaching the virtues of professionalism or accrediting statisticians as competent to practice. Indeed,one need look no further than the recent accounting scandals in the US involving Enron, MCI,etc., tosee what costs accreditation can impose: in all cases the culprits were fully accredited accountants,and the only role that accreditation served was to lull the public with a false sense of security—andafter those scandals I doubt even that will be true again. Accreditation, a modern means of limitingentrance to a profession akin to the guilds of medieval England, leads to complacency and a verylow threshold in the definition of competency. The ISI can lead by the examples we set and we candiscuss the issues involved in our publications and our biennial sessions, but I would oppose a moveto set us up as an accrediting agency.

On the other hand, I strongly support the role for the ISI as a facilitator for both internationaland cross-disciplinary collaboration. We should encourage the arrangement at our meetings (and/orpublication in the ISR) of forums discussing topics of current interest: economic issues, samplingissues, public health issues. This is our central mission and should be pursued vigorously.

[Received March 2005, accepted May 2005]