S TATS.org, and the American Statistical Association (ASA), are proud to announce that Jonathan Auerbach, a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Statistics at Columbia University, will serve as the first-ever Public Understanding of Statistics fellow for the summer of 2016.

“Rare are opportunities, such as this fellowship, where students can learn how to engage journalists, policy makers, and the public,” said Auerbach of the opportunity to work with STATS.org to create statistical visualizations, as well as modules on statistics in science for STATS.org’s Statistics for Journalists workshop series.

“We hope to create tools journalists can freely use to help readers and viewers better visualize data to increase their understanding of the meaning behind the numbers,” said ASA’s Executive Director, Ron Wasserstein, of the work that Auerbach will do.  

A collaborative project between Sense About Science USA and the ASA, STATS.org works to improve statistical literacy and scientific methodology.

The Public Understanding of Statistics fellowship was established thanks to a donation from the ASA.

STATS.org is funded by grants from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Searle Freedom Trust, and a donation from the American Statistical Association.

Sense About Science USA’s mission is to create and curate a national conversation about the value of scientific progress and the importance of evidence and transparency. It is funded by philanthropic and public donations; it does not accept industry funding or support.

Visit STATS.org for more information.

Should you wish to interview Sense About Science USA Director, Trevor Butterworth, about the fellowship and STATS.org, please contact him at: 917-635-2081 and trevor@sensci.org.