1. What happens to all that maths? Peter K Dunn Department of Mathematics and Computing University of Southern Queensland

2. Introduction “Mathematics pervades so many aspects of daily life that a sound knowledge is essential for informed citizenship” (Senior Mathematics A Syllabus) So why is participation in advanced mathematics classes declining? So why is participation in advanced mathematics classes declining? Do students not see mathematics as useful? Do students not see mathematics as useful?

3. Statistics “The best thing about being a statistician is that you get to play in everyone’s backyard.” (Tukey) Perhaps the most useful topic in mathematics is statistics — and yet it is a very small part of it. Perhaps the most useful topic in mathematics is statistics — and yet it is a very small part of it. School maths/stats is used for real research. School maths/stats is used for real research.

4. Statistics is useful “To isolate mathematics from the practical demands of the sciences is to invite the sterility of a cow shut away from the bulls” (Chebyshev) Stats makes maths relevant: real data, examples Stats makes maths relevant: real data, examples Statistics leads to jobs! Statistics leads to jobs!

5. Statistics in biology USQ’s internationally recognised Muscular Research Laboratory has received over $1M to study Duchene Muscular Dystrophy USQ’s internationally recognised Muscular Research Laboratory has received over $1M to study Duchene Muscular Dystrophy Statistics used to analyse preliminary results from mice Statistics used to analyse preliminary results from mice Ca response curve a measure of muscle strength Ca response curve a measure of muscle strength

8. Statistics in agriculture Compare two GPS methods for accuracy when spraying crops Compare two GPS methods for accuracy when spraying crops Make five runs up and down paddock (five “swaths”) and compare GPS results Make five runs up and down paddock (five “swaths”) and compare GPS results

10. Statistics in engineering (cont) GIS used to detect weeds for potential treatment and eradication GIS used to detect weeds for potential treatment and eradication Consider the weed Pond Apple… Consider the weed Pond Apple… Interest is in knowing where it may appear Interest is in knowing where it may appear

12. Statistics in engineering (cont) Comparing GPS and traditional methods of tractor navigation during spraying Comparing GPS and traditional methods of tractor navigation during spraying Queensland Cotton has employed USQ statisticians to improve international competitiveness (commercial-in-confidence) Queensland Cotton has employed USQ statisticians to improve international competitiveness (commercial-in-confidence) Different irrigation methods have been compared (PRD and RDI) Different irrigation methods have been compared (PRD and RDI)

13. Visit to Queensland Cotton’s gin near Dalby

14. Statistics in climate science Statistics used for modelling rainfall (and other climatic variables) Statistics used for modelling rainfall (and other climatic variables) For prediction and computer simulation For prediction and computer simulation More difficult than it appears More difficult than it appears

15. Statistics in education Teaching aural skills is difficult from thousands of kilometres away! Teaching aural skills is difficult from thousands of kilometres away! A USQ researcher investigating different teaching methods to see what works best A USQ researcher investigating different teaching methods to see what works best Mostly using simple tables Mostly using simple tables

16. Statistics in aviation Private pilot deaths in Australia from 1992 to 1999 were studied. Private pilot deaths in Australia from 1992 to 1999 were studied. The effect of age was of interest The effect of age was of interest

18. Statistics in health research USQ statisticians involved in many health studies: USQ statisticians involved in many health studies: Nurses surveyed about workplace concerns Nurses surveyed about workplace concerns New mothers surveyed about perceptions of breast- feeding New mothers surveyed about perceptions of breast- feeding Asthma treatment in Aboriginal communities Asthma treatment in Aboriginal communities Health statistics is a huge area of research that often uses simple statistics Health statistics is a huge area of research that often uses simple statistics

19. Was the planned change and reasons for the change openly and frequently communicated? SectionYesNoTotal Administration7815 Critical care71320 Family health241438 Medical15924 Surgical6814 Mental health189 Total6060120

20. Advanced research Of course, not all research is based on secondary school mathematics Of course, not all research is based on secondary school mathematics But much research is based mathematically and statistically on basic concepts But much research is based mathematically and statistically on basic concepts

21. Other research Improving statistical methods for analysing data Improving statistical methods for analysing data Modelling traffic flow Modelling traffic flow Modelling wind erosion Modelling wind erosion Modelling the flow of air and fluid around objects Modelling the flow of air and fluid around objects Modelling rainfall (and other data) that is continuous with exact zero Modelling rainfall (and other data) that is continuous with exact zero

22. Mathematics at school To know mathematics is useful, students must see it as useful To know mathematics is useful, students must see it as useful Students must see mathematics and statistics in action Students must see mathematics and statistics in action Can do so by using real data and seeing real applications Can do so by using real data and seeing real applications

23. Mathematics is useful Jordan (1994): Students interviewed people using mathematics in their job Jordan (1994): Students interviewed people using mathematics in their job Junior and Senior Syllabi explicitly mention students collecting and analysing their own data Junior and Senior Syllabi explicitly mention students collecting and analysing their own data Numerous sources of real data apart from data students collect Numerous sources of real data apart from data students collect Enter Qld Statistics Poster Competition! Enter Qld Statistics Poster Competition!

24. Qld Statistics Poster Comp Open to Years 8 and 9 (teams of 2 or 3) Open to Years 8 and 9 (teams of 2 or 3) Great prizes (computer for school; each individual won $150 worth of gift vouchers) Great prizes (computer for school; each individual won $150 worth of gift vouchers) Addresses SLE in Syllabus Addresses SLE in Syllabus During National Science Week During National Science Week See http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/statsweb/ See http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/statsweb/http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/statsweb/

25. Statistics Competition Projects Does the colour of jelly beans affect taste? Does the colour of jelly beans affect taste? Can people really distinguish different brands of cola? Can people really distinguish different brands of cola? Do ants prefer meat or jam sandwiches Do ants prefer meat or jam sandwiches What does Coca-Cola dissolve? What does Coca-Cola dissolve? A study of when buses run late A study of when buses run late A catapult experiment A catapult experiment

27. Sources of real data: The web Australasian Data and Story Library: http://www.statsci.org/data/index.html Australasian Data and Story Library: http://www.statsci.org/data/index.html http://www.statsci.org/data/index.html http://www.statsci.org/data/index.html ABS: http://www.abs.gov.au/ ABS: http://www.abs.gov.au/http://www.abs.gov.au/ Data and Story Library: http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/DASL/ Data and Story Library: http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/DASL/ http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/DASL/ Chance: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/ Chance: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/ Teaching resources: http://www.statsci.org/teaching.html Teaching resources: http://www.statsci.org/teaching.html http://www.statsci.org/teaching.html Datasets for Statistical Analysis: http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/dunn/Datasets/index.html Datasets for Statistical Analysis: http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/dunn/Datasets/index.html http://www.sci.usq.edu.au/staff/dunn/Datasets/index.html

28. Sources of real data: Books The best book: The best book: Hand, Daly, Lunn, McConway & Ostrowski (1994). A Handbook of Small Data Sets. London: Chapman and Hall 510 small, real, indexed data sets

29. Jobs for maths/stats graduates “There is currently a very marked shortage of professional statisticians across a range of disciplines in Australia. “The hottest areas are biostatistics/bioinformatics and financial modelling… “Advertisements for biostatisticians are going unfilled for a long time. “The methodology division of the (Australian) Bureau of Statistics reports that the output of honours graduates in statistics is no longer sufficient to fill its annual recruitment needs.

30. Jobs for maths/stats graduates “The need for statisticians is more recognized than even before in Australia and there are far more employment opportunities than ever before. “There are several jobs for every honours graduate that Australia is producing. “It is very difficult to understand why the number of graduate statisticians being produced by Australian universities is decreasing rather than increasing.” (Smyth)

31. Bioinformatics A new discipline A new discipline A hybrid of statistics, computing and biology A hybrid of statistics, computing and biology Time magazine April 2002: “The coming job boom”: Time magazine April 2002: “The coming job boom”: An estimated 20000 unfilled jobs in the US in bioinformatics by 2005 An estimated 20000 unfilled jobs in the US in bioinformatics by 2005 A number of Australian universities have bioinformatics degrees (including USQ) A number of Australian universities have bioinformatics degrees (including USQ)

32. Other names for statisticians Psychometrician; Psychometrician; Biometrician; Biometrician; Biostatistician; Biostatistician; Econometrician; Econometrician; Bioinformaticians; Bioinformaticians; Statistical physicist; Statistical physicist; Financial modeller Financial modeller

33. Stats Society publicity campaign You probably wouldn't trust your life to an untrained doctor, or your teeth to an untrained dentist. You probably wouldn't trust your money to an unqualified accountant. Yet every day we rely on policies affecting our health, prosperity and security that are founded on unprofessional use of statistics. (SSA, p3).

34. One example: Challenger disaster Challenger space shuttle disaster of January 1986 Challenger space shuttle disaster of January 1986 Launch forecast temperature: 31ºF (–0.6ºC) Launch forecast temperature: 31ºF (–0.6ºC) Previous coldest launch: 53ºF (12ºC) Previous coldest launch: 53ºF (12ºC) Was it too cold for a successful launch? Was it too cold for a successful launch? NASA engineers thought not based on the evidence: NASA engineers thought not based on the evidence:

36. Challenger (cont) Later, statisticians pointed out that the data was inadequate Later, statisticians pointed out that the data was inadequate The correct data on which to make a decision was: The correct data on which to make a decision was:

38. Jobs in statistics Statistics jobs in Australia and New Zealand: http://www.statsci.org/jobs/index.html Statistics jobs in Australia and New Zealand: http://www.statsci.org/jobs/index.html http://www.statsci.org/jobs/index.html Listed 250+ jobs for statisticians in 2002. Listed 250+ jobs for statisticians in 2002. Doesn’t list graduate programs, teaching. Doesn’t list graduate programs, teaching. Graduate Programs: http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Graduate_programs.html Graduate Programs: http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Graduate_programs.html http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Graduate_programs.html Jobs for mathematicians here and overseas: http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Job_listings.html Jobs for mathematicians here and overseas: http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Job_listings.html http://www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Job_listings.html 175 maths graduates in Australia (2001), only some with statistics. 175 maths graduates in Australia (2001), only some with statistics.

39. Thomas reports Jan Thomas reported on state of mathematics in Australia (2000 and 2002): Jan Thomas reported on state of mathematics in Australia (2000 and 2002): Decline in students studying advanced mathematics Decline in students studying advanced mathematics Acute shortage of mathematics teachers Acute shortage of mathematics teachers Acute shortage of mathematics lecturers Acute shortage of mathematics lecturers Education Queensland has no incentives to attract mathematics teachers (I asked) Education Queensland has no incentives to attract mathematics teachers (I asked)

40. Conclusions Mathematics and statistics is useful Mathematics and statistics is useful Students must see it in action to appreciate this Students must see it in action to appreciate this Can use examples of real research Can use examples of real research Can use real data, or generate real data Can use real data, or generate real data Enter Qld Statistics Poster Competition Enter Qld Statistics Poster Competition Plenty of jobs for statistics graduates Plenty of jobs for statistics graduates Statistics a small part of school mathematics Statistics a small part of school mathematics EQ needs to put incentives in place now EQ needs to put incentives in place now