SCAD joins 111 countries and more than 1,400 organizations in the global awareness campaign 'Statistics 2013'

SCAD remarked that this outreach drive aims to raise awareness of statistics and its huge impact in all areas of life. The campaign also aims to increase interest on the part of young people, especially school and college students, in statistics as a field of a study and work.

The Centre indicated that in its work to make the "Statistics2013" campaign a success, it is joining a wide range of national and international institutions such as professional associations, universities, schools, companies and research institutions, in order to help millions of people to understand the true value of statistics through workshops, seminars, students outreach programs and the media.

The HE Butti Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Director General of the Centre remarked that statistics stand for a lot more than just numbers on paper sheets, emphasizing its far-reaching implications on everyone, even though most people do not realize how statistics works to improve their lives. SCAD seeks from this campaign, jointly with other statistical agencies worldwide, to simplify the concepts and products of statistics and present them to the people in a way that would enhance public awareness.

HE Al Qubaisi also observed that statistics is helping to improve the quality of human life across the world. In Africa, for instance, statistical analysis is helping in the fight against poverty, through the improvement of literacy efforts. In Asia transport infrastructure is being improved based on statistical models on the flow of people, while in Australia, Statistics was key in catching drug cheats during the 27th Olympic Games in 2000. In Europe, statistical science is a critical tool in planning efficient recycling systems. In North America, statistics is synthesizing evidence that improves treatments for heart conditions. And in South America statistical methods are helping to feed the world by identifying new crop varieties in breeding experiments.

Al Qubaisi further added, "Our world today is increasingly dependent on the data and statistical analysis, which is a major supporter of the decision-making in all types of organizations, without counting our lives will be much different."

The Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi has dedicated a special website is for this global campaign, in which visitors can view a two and a half minute video calling on people everywhere to take greater interest in statistics and explaining how it can improve the lives of 7 billion all over the world. The website also offers a window for students to participate in a statistical contest, in addition to informational material about jobs in the field of statistics. It also provides brochures and posters for school teachers to download.

Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi noted that its program to mark this international drive features a variety of events, such as hosting the "Abu Dhabi Statistical Conference 2013" and several seminars to be presented by renowned experts in statistics, in addition to participating in numerous exhibitions and conferences both locally and abroad. SCAD will also organize a series of awareness visits and lectures in schools and universities, distribute gifts to children, and publish a quarterly electronic statistical bulletin, besides a wide range of other events and activities that aim to ensure the success of this international endeavour.

SCAD has already refurbished its official website to keep up with the event and provide an opportunity for everyone to celebrate and take time to understand the importance of statistical work in our lives. The Centre's website also helps to foster a stronger partnership with all data providers so that all the parties concerned can work in true team spirit and work towards balanced and sustainable development supported by an advanced statistical system.

The founding organizations of statistics2013: the American Statistical Association, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the International Biometric Society, the International Statistical Institute (and the Bernoulli Society), and the Royal Statistical Society have called for celebrating this event throughout 2013.