(From the Report on Education Committee Activities )

Several bodies have devoted time and energy to summer/winter schools in biostatistics, epidemiology, and related fields. Most of these are institutional based and the cost to attend differs. Some are regularly organized whereas others are one off depending on the demand. For example, a 2-week Summer School takes place in Italy (Trieste, UNESCO sponsored), based on a joint initiative from Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and the Harvard School of Public Health. The IBS education committee is charged with seeking involvement in and fostering of such activities. A wide variety of initiatives have been in existence in different countries and information posted on institutional websites.

Over the last decade, the IBS has developed a successful record of organizing short courses surrounding IBCs. These courses serve a double purpose: (1) to provide education to the membership in important (emerging) topics and (2) to generate revenue for the Society. The Society is in good company since other Societies too have such educational programs, with both of these goals in mind (e.g., RSS, ASA, ENAR). Nevertheless, there are important differences. Whereas RSS, ASA, and ENAR operate within a relatively homogeneous national context, IBCs are truly international encounters, with members from diverse national, educational, economic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. This poses specific challenges to the successful educational program. Topics of common knowledge in one part of the world may be new or unknown in another. The body designing the educational program for an IBC is often aware of this. This is best achieved through the diverse composition of such a committee. Given different economic backgrounds, a differential fee structure is in place.

The fact that English is the most common language for scientific exchange (international meetings, scientific journals) poses, again, specific challenges to members from various linguistic backgrounds. While this is less of a problem for small linguistic communities, it is more so for the larger ones, such as the French speaking and Spanish speaking communities. The Society has a mission in recognizing the importance of these languages, arguably for transnational exchange (e.g., within Latin America), but not for international exchange. A way to reach out to those who struggle with scientific English is the organization of tutorials and short courses in various languages (e.g., a short course on longitudinal data, Spanish and/or French spoken but with English or even bilingual transparencies). Such an approach will enhance communication between biostatisticians worldwide and hence increase the overall level and quality. The language problem is partly addressed through incorporation of short courses during the regional meetings.

The pre-conference courses preceding the sub-Saharan African Network (SUSAN) have proved to be very effective and popular. The consistent support obtained from the Center for Technical and Rural Agriculture (CTA) in facilitating the courses, by sponsoring at least three participants from sub-Saharan African countries to attend, have enriched application of biometry in Africa. In addition, the IBS has been contributing through support of resource persons and ensuring either the IBS Vice-President or the President attends both the courses and SUSAN main conference.