Dear all,
I am writing this from Lahore, Pakistan, where I am teaching a course in Bayesian statistics at the Department of Mathematics of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) as part of the International Mathematics Master (IMM), sponsored by the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), based in Trieste, Italy. "The International Mathematics Master is a prestigious two-year degree promoting mathematical excellence in developing countries [so far Algeria and Pakistan] and addressed to the very best graduate students with an interest in further study at a PhD level in any area of mathematics." This is a quote from the IMM website, but I can attest to the quality, interest, and passion of the students I am teaching.
The ISI Academy has launched an experimental programme to have established researchers visit low and lower-middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank, and deliver courses at universities for 3-4 weeks. The International Statistical Institute will pay up to 3,000 euros for travel (economy class) and accommodation (no five-star hotels!), with no legal liability, e.g., for accidents or misbehaviour. Compared to my previous announcement, we are now allowing courses at all levels, possibly taught by multiple teachers who could stay for shorter periods but guarantee a total of 3-4 weeks. The requirement that has not changed is that both the lecturer(s) and the local person seeking teachers must be members of the International Statistical Institute. The programme is intended to foster new collaborations, so it would be best not to use the (very limited!) ISI funds for activities already underway. Teachers are expected to provide advice to students even after the course.
Before my trip to Pakistan, I was in China and the Netherlands, and I will soon be going to Korea and Taiwan. All these visits have some effect on the International Statistical Institute. There is interest in China in organising an event jointly with the International Statistical Institute, perhaps in 2026 or later. It could be a sort of Statistics Week like the one the ISI Executive Committee and Associations' Presidents will attend in December in Taiwan. In the Netherlands, the ISI President, Xuming He, and I had private meetings with the staff of the ISI Permanent Office. We were impressed by the commitment and hard work of all the staff members for the International Statistical Institute. While ISI members may occasionally raise concerns, I want to assure them that these are not due to any lack of goodwill on the part of our PO. Their dedication and efforts to support the organisation are apparent and much appreciated.
In Korea, I will give a couple of scientific talks (I am still doing research...) and meet with representatives of Statistics Korea and the Korean Statistical Society to get updates on the ISI WSC that will be held in Busan in 2027.
We are working on an ISI European Regional Statistical Conference in Malta in early June 2026, in collaboration with the University of Malta. We are discussing the final details on logistics, and then we will be ready to set up all the committees and launch a call for papers.
We are still looking for an editor for the ISI journal, and suggestions are welcome! During the meeting at the PO in The Hague, we discussed the possibility of publishing some short podcasts, with a maximum of 10 minutes on relevant topics on a regular basis. They have a cost, and we need to evaluate it as we care a lot about the financial situation of the ISI, but we also need someone to suggest topics and speakers and contact them.
I keep repeating it, and will do so for the next two and a half years, that the International Statistical Institute belongs to its members, and its officers are willing to listen to ideas and expressions of commitment from them! For this reason, I remind you of my e-mail: [email protected]
P.S. The simplest way to support ISI is by attending the ISI World Statistics Congress, next in The Hague in October 2025. And of course, inviting people to become ISI members, especially Elected ones!
