Purpose
The main purpose of the Hispanic Network is to promote the activities of the IBS, to facilitate the exchange of scientific information, and to strengthen Biometrics and Biostatistics in the Spanish-speaking regions of the IBS. Its members, united by Spanish as a common language, have forged interpersonal and inter-institutional ties that have made possible various joint academic and scientific activities. The most prominent one is the "IberoAmerican Biometrics Meeting" (EIB), held since 2007 every two years in different regions of the proposed Network. In addition, the interaction among the regions of the Network expands the outreach of Biometrics into a more diverse areas of knowledge, such as Biomedical, Agricultural, Biological Sciences, among many others and, at the same time, fosters collaboration to develop new statistical methods.
Participating IBS Regions
- Argentina
- Central America and Caribbean
- Chile
- Ecuador
- Spain
Membership Composition
Any current and future (mostly) Spanish-speaking region can join this Network and could host the Ibero-American Biometrics Meeting (EIB). Regions can also choose to leave the Network. If the regions choose to leave the Network, and there are fewer than three regions left in the Network, the Network will be dissolved.
Management
The Network has no fixed organizational structure and is managed entirely by volunteer members. Communication between the participating regions is maintained through a representative designated by each region and/or their respective presidents. The host region for each biennial Meeting usually coordinates and plans the event in collaboration with the other regions of the Network. There is no specific timeline for nominations and designations.
Finance
The regions of the Network are self-sustaining and not-for-profit. The host region of a biennial conference is responsible for the administration of the finances of the specific conference, and thus the host region prepares and manages the budget for the Network meeting.
Past / Future Planned Network Activities
The Ibero-American Biometrics Meeting is held every two years (in odd numbered years). We plan to hold online talks on topics of interest to biometricians, statistical consultants, teachers, and students in the area. These talks are organized by one of the regions of the network, and the participation of members of the other regions is strongly encouraged.
Student / Young Statistician Activities
The Network promotes the participation of students and young statisticians through scholarships and awards for the biennial Meetings. In 2021, the Argentinean Region organized the webinars "Collaborative Statistical Analysis" to promote the interaction between graduate students and professionals specialized in consulting and data science. Similar events are planned in the future, as well as the promotion and collaboration in the IBS mentoring program.
For information on the Network, contact the International Biometric Office.