The Biostatistics Department recently sponsored the inaugural Harvard Florence Nightingale Day– a one-day event meant to expose local female middle and high school students to statistics and data science.
The Florence Nightingale Day Committee hosted approximately 50 students (from a diverse range of schools in the greater Boston area), parents/guardians, and teachers and 30 volunteers. In the morning, students grabbed their “swag” bags and worked furiously on their statistics scavenger hunt, vying for first place (the nifty data science journal prizes were distributed at the end of the day). Then student participants dug into hands-on activities led by Harvard faculty and students, such as data visualization and the Monty Hall problem, introducing students to concepts in probability, statistical research, and data science.In the College Panel, undergraduate and graduate panelists studying
statistics and biostatistics shared their insight and tips on getting involved in research, preparing for college applications, and preparing academically for a STEM major in college. Panelists, volunteers and participants continued the conversation on college and careers in small groups during lunch. Wrapping up the day, the Career Panel featured professional statisticians and biostatisticians with careers that varied from working in academia and industry on global health problems to working on optimizing baseball operations for the Boston Red Sox. After a fun-filled day of statistics, participants and volunteers took one more selfie with “Flo” (a life-sized, historical cut-out of Nightingale).
Thank you to all who volunteered to make this a successful, enriching day!
