Biometry, biometrics, biostatistics, bioinformatics, . . . , bio-X

Abstract

Recent scientific evolutions force us to rethink our profession's position on the scientific map, in relation to our neighboring professions, the ones with which we traditionally have strong collaborative links as well as the newly emerging fields, but also within our own, diverse professional group. We will show that great inspiration can be drawn from our own history, in fact from the early days of the Society. A recent inspiring example has been set by the late Rob Kempton, who died suddenly just months before he was to become President of the International Biometric Society.

8 Biometrics, March 2005fast-track publication will be explored, with strong efforts tokeep overall review times under control. Biometrics does verywell in this respect, certainly within the group of statisticaljournals. However, if we take our interdisciplinary efforts se-riously, we have to be competitive within a wider circle ofjournals. The IBS will undertake such a journal review in col-laboration with the JABES Management Committee, as thisjournal is a joint venture with the ASA.6.4 EducationArguably, the most important area of activity for the futureis education. This was already hinted upon in Section 1 andfeatured high on Rob Kempton’s agenda a s well. We needto invest in facilitating adequate training, both of candidatestatisticians and of colleagues in fields with which we col-laborate. Educational needs are different in different parts ofthe world. While ample master- and PhD-level education isav ailable in a number of Anglo-Saxon countries, and someprograms exist in some other countries, including in WesternEurope, still great needs exist in various parts of the world.Thus, the IBS ought to be instrumental in providing educa-tion at a wide variety of levels, including: short courses andsatellite workshops at IBCs, at Regional conferences, and atother scientific events in which we are or can become a part-ner; Summer or Winter Schools; templates for partial or fullgraduate programs, facilitating exchange of instructors, etc.One might consider drawing up a template program, basedon successful experiences from various locations around theglobe. Such a template could consist of a minimal core to-gether with a large number of suggestions for other mandatoryand optional courses. In addition to this, successful instructorscould be asked t o make their course notes available, for useand/or adaptation by local instructors. Such a template couldbe accompanied by full syllabi for courses, course notes, exer-cises, standard tests, etc. An important component of this andother educational initiatives is the use of Distance Learningmethods (online courses, access to free educational materials,software). Such methods could either replace or supplementonsite teaching.The IBS should explore ways of providing professional de-velopment services to its members. Currently, the IB S is al-most entirely absent from this segment of professional organi-zations. Exceptions are some of its larger Regions (ENAR, theGerman Region). Large national societies, such as the RoyalStatistical Society and the American Statistical Association,take such initiatives very seriously. Intersoc iety working par-ties may be set up to provide professional development ser-vices to our members. Appropriate initiatives will be takento ensure IBS has structure in place to successfully undertakethese tasks.7. Final CommentWe are facing important challenges for the future but we be-lieve our Society is in a unique position to cope with them.Our long history of collaborative research is a gold mine ofknowledge and experience, provided we are willing t o makeefficient use of it, and provided we are willing to take an inclu-sive view of the profession and are prepared to work togetherwith our existing scientific partners in biology, agriculture,forestry, medicine, etc., as well as with new partners in bioin-formatics, genomics, the other biometrics, etc., but impor-tantly also within our profession. When taking this attitude,we will truly be able to fulfill our renewed mission statement:An International Society Devoted to Development and Ap-plication of Stati stical and Mathematical Theory and Meth-odsinthe Biosciences.AcknowledgementsIamgrateful to Gavin Gibson, Chris Glasbey, and AndrewMead for their assistance when preparing the section on RobKempton. I am indebted to Marie Davidian and AndrewMead, Strategic Plan Committee Chairs, and their committeemembers, for material regarding the Strategic Plan. Further,Iwould like to express gratitude to all chairs and membersof IBS standing and ad-hoc committees, to the journal andnewsletter editors, and to the editorial boards. A special wordof thanks goes to the Council members for their importantlegislative activities. I am grateful to Norman Breslow andXihong Lin for their valuable comments on an earlier versionof this article.R´esum´e