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Distinguished Lecture in Statistical Sciences: “Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics” – Sept 29, 2025
Session Description
September 29, 2025 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Abstract:
This is the title I used the first time I taught the U of T First-Year Seminar course, many years ago now. I was nervous about the prospect of a seminar-style course for students just out of high school. As it turned out, however, this course had a big, positive, impact on my teaching, my research, and my ‘world-view’ of statistical science. Although much has changed in our field in the years since, the basic principles of reasoning with uncertainty have not. In this talk I will reflect on my experiences in trying to convey the ongoing importance of statistical science, and perhaps hazard a guess about the future.
Speaker Profile:
Nancy Reid studied at the University of Waterloo (B.Math. 1974), the University of British Columbia (M.Sc. 1976), Stanford University (PhD 1979) and Imperial College, London (PDF 1980). She joined the University of Toronto in 1986 from the University of British Columbia. She has held several leadership roles in statistical science including Chair of the Department (1997–2002) and Scientific Director of the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute (2015–2019).
Nancy is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Society of Canada, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences. In 2015 she was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada.
A reception follows the lecture on September 29.
Format: Hybrid Event (In person in Toronto / Online by Zoom)