Book Available for Free Download

Past, Present, and Future of Statistical Science, commissioned by the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS) to celebrate its 50th anniversary and the International Year of Statistics, is now available for free download (PDF).

The book—a collection of articles broken down into five distinct parts—provides a brief history of COPSS and showcases the breadth and vibrancy of statistics. It also describes current challenges and new opportunities, highlights the future of statistical science, and provides guidance for future statisticians. Many of the articles are accessible not only to professional statisticians and graduate students, but also to undergraduates interested in pursuing statistics as a career and to those who use statistics in solving real-world problems.

In “Part V: Advice for the Next Generation,” young statisticians can read about the importance of having a mentor(s), how to publish your work, and how to convert rejections into positive stimuli. Helpful career advice also is in this section.

A consistent theme of all articles is the passion for statistics enthusiastically shared by the contributing authors. Their success stories inspire, give a sense of statistics as a discipline, and provide a taste of the exhilaration of discovery, success, and professional accomplishment. The 50 contributors to the book are all past COPSS award honorees.