Modern mathematicians and statisticians are being asked to develop new tools and techniques to deal with problems in areas from business management to biology. New insights are also being developed in the more traditional areas of physical science and engineering. All this activity leads to new applications of mathematics and statistics, as well as new theoretical work on the structure of the mathematics and statistics involved.
Statistics can be used to answer some very important scientific, social and commercial questions. The challenge in statistics is to use appropriate logic, apply the correct methodology and interpret the results accurately.
Some projects involving statisticians include:
- measuring the rate that cystic fibrosis develops in lung tissue
- describing the spatial distribution of wood fibre lengths in trees
- monitoring endangered animals to detect critical rates of decline
- measuring the impact of government policy on education
- estimating the working life of mechanical equipment before it requires repair
- measuring the extent to which participation in group-therapy anger-management sessions reduces the chance of re-offending.
