JSM Overwhelm? Here’s Advice from Seasoned Attendees

Attending the Joint Statistical Meetings for the first time can feel overwhelming—it’s a big event with thousands of attendees! To help ease nerves, we asked a few seasoned attendees to share their first-time experiences. From unexpected moments to valuable lessons, here’s what they had to say:

Liz Mannshardt, Westat

What is a “wow” moment from your first conference?
At my first JSM, I was “wowed” by how many concurrent sessions there were and by how physically large conference centers can be! It was daunting to try to search the (giant, heavy, printed) program, and I remember wandering around the halls looking for the 2:00 p.m. talk in Hall A, then the 2:20 p.m. talk in Hall B—which turned out to be at least a quarter mile away through multiple hallways and corridors. (And I remember passing the same professor multiple times in the hallways, also looking for which talk was where.) I am now so appreciative of the searchable online program and JSM app, in which you can save the sessions and talks you are interested in and navigate via the app maps.

But the most surprising moment was realizing that JSM has a dance party! It is now a favorite tradition.

Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give yourself before attending your first JSM?
The nontechnical sessions and activities at JSM are just as important as the technical ones. The program has a plethora of sessions on networking, leadership, professional development, power skills, communication, and more. (Check out the Committee on Career Development’s annual “Network Like a Pro” event with leaders from across the ASA!) These are also great places to meet people with both similar interests and areas of study—as well as to learn about entire new areas that might pique your interest for a collaboration. I highly recommend going to the section meetings and networking sessions—great places to meet old and new friends and colleagues! They are also a great place to learn about all the different ways you can get involved with the ASA and statistics community. And, of course, the JSM First-Time Attendee reception. Meet other first-timers and learn all about JSM!

What’s the most unexpected or fun connection you made at JSM?
The most fun connections I have made at JSM are the people in the amazing ASA community. A few of us have an informal “adventure group” tradition, where we take an afternoon or evening to explore. We have climbed mountains, hiked deserts, wandered through gardens, enjoyed blues bands and local cuisine, and even cruised on a pirate ship together! The connections with friends and colleagues last across the years, from JSM to JSM and beyond.

Sastry G. Pantula, California State University, San Bernardino

What is a “wow” moment from your first conference?
I recall distinctly my first JSM in 1983, in Toronto. I was to present my first seminar at JSM after getting my PhD in August of 1982 and joining the NC State statistics department.

I was nervous, first, because I was waiting for my green card application to be processed to be able to go to Canada. An approval for the green card arrived at the end of July, just in time to go to Toronto.

Second, I decided to drive to Toronto in a small Honda Civic CC—a long drive (more than 12 hours) from Raleigh, North Carolina, but very pleasant going through Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, New York, etc., and Niagara Falls, of course.

Third, I was surprised by how big the Opening Mixer was—more than 3,000 participants.

The “wow” moment for me was the Opening Mixer, standing next to my guru, Wayne Fuller. It felt like I was standing next to a 12-foot giant magnet. He would attract many. Who’s who in statistics would come by and talk to Wayne, and he would proudly introduce all his students who were stuck to him in awe. You realize people with their names attached to theorems are alive and three-dimensional.

It became an annual tradition. I don’t think I missed attending a JSM since then, nor do I miss going to the Opening Mixer. (Wayne is not attending JSMs recently, though very active otherwise at 94!)

JSM is a mecca for statisticians and attracts more than 6,000 each year from diverse backgrounds—academia, business, industry, and government. Great place to network under one big tent!

Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give yourself before attending your first JSM?
I would talk to my colleagues and others who have attended JSM before and find out what to expect at the meetings. What to expect when you give a talk at JSM. Learn how to network. Realize you do not have to attend every session and every talk (No, you can’t; I made this mistake in my fledgling years). Plan what you may want to attend, who you want to definitely meet (and contact them to schedule a time). Check out your department’s mixer and plan to have fun—First-Time Attendee reception, Opening Mixer, exhibition hall, and any fun excursions in the town.

I always have breakfast with my guru, Wayne. Since he gets busy, I schedule this months in advance. Interestingly, my wife, Sobha, and our daughter, Asha, attended every one of these, too! And now, Asha is in grad school getting a statistics degree .

Take comfortable shoes and dress casually (unless you scheduled an interview with a company). You will be doing a lot of walking—convention centers are huge and you have to walk to meetings in various motels near the convention center.

Now-a-days, folks have much advice about this on Google, ChatGPT, and Amstat News. Better than depending on old farts like me (see sidebar).

What’s the most unexpected or fun connection you made at JSM?
For me, in 2010, when I was the ASA president, the JSM was in Vancouver. I really had a wonderful experience speaking to a radio station about the importance of census data and statistical surveys.

(When Ron asked me to send the president’s address a week before the meetings, I sent him my home address .)

I always enjoy meeting many young statisticians (yes, they seem to be getting younger and younger), especially at the Diversity Mentoring Program.

I appreciate when everyone wears their name badges. Most often, you recognize someone’s face and struggle to remember their name while carrying on a conversation as if you know who you are talking to. (Don’t blame my age. There are 6,000 folks there, after all, and they are not the same 6,000 from last year.)

It was great to meet interesting people like Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Nate Silver, and many other invited speakers.

The biggest surprise for me is that they keep inviting me to the “longtime members” reception. Boy, are they old!

Nairanjana Dasgupta, Washington State University

What is a “wow” moment from your first conference?
JSM was always a bit of a stressful time for me. Even after years of going there, walking to registration was always scary, as I felt everyone knew each other and I didn’t know anyone. I started volunteering and was part of the Committee on Career Development. I would diligently volunteer to sit at the committee table so I could avoid the crowds but still participate. One day, Ron Wasserstein, ASA executive director, stopped by and talked to me and seemed totally human and nice. It was my “wow” moment that the people in leadership were all regular people and were nice! It really made me feel I did belong after all. I also made a connection with the Caucus for Women in Statistics and Data Science. Its table was next to the Committee on Career Development’s, and being associated with the caucus has opened so many doors for me in terms of having a cohort and taking on leadership.

Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give yourself before attending your first JSM?
Smile more and introduce yourself to folks you don’t know. Because probably they are just as petrified as you are.

What’s the most unexpected or fun connection you made at JSM?
Living in the middle of nowhere, all my connections were through conferences like JSM. Through JSM, I solidified my connection with Nicole Lazar and Rich Levine, who I had met at WNAR [Western North American Region of the International Biometric Society]. We decided to meet up at JSM and go out to eat with our significant others. We and our spouses have been friends for 25 years now and gone through tenure, promotion, children, being ASA Fellows for 25-plus years. That first lunch at JSM was the start. We have a tradition of meeting up each year and doing a meal together. They are the reason I continue to do what I do.