There is huge diversity in statistics, ranging from theory to applied statistics involving collaboration, she explains. “Statisticians work with scientists, sociologists, educators, basically in any area where there is random sampling of data that needs to be understood.”

Meiring also presents challenging problems to her students. In one exercise they determine the probability that a person who tests positive for a rare disease actually has that disease, based on the medical test’s accuracy.

“My aim is to motivate students to develop new methodology in response to the data,” she says, “to have them leave with the knowledge that we face complex problems that can only be addressed with sound statistical principals.”

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