scientists

Part One: Warm Up

Discuss the following questions with a partner or group:

  • What does a statistician do?
  • Is statistics a growing field? Why or why not?
  • How is statistics related to STEM?
  • What types of businesses or organizations need statisticians?

Part Two: Reading

Read this article from Science magazine. Then, discuss the following questions with your same partner or group:

  • What are some traditional fields that require statisticians?
  • What are some new fields that require statisticians?
  • What is "data science?"
  • Are statistics jobs expected to grow or shrink between 2012 and 2022? How much are they expected to grow or shrink?
  • Why do companies like Google need people with a knowledge of statistics?
  • What are "life sciences?" Why do some life science fields need people with a knowledge of statistics?
  • Are more or fewer students studying statistics these days?
  • Describe Harvard's biostatistics program. 
  • From what you read in the article, do you think being a statistician is an easy or difficult job? Do you think it would be satisfying? Do you think it pays a competitive salary?

Part Three: Exploration


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