Aligarh: Prof. Ashis Sen Gupta from Indian Statistical Institute discussed the necessity of spreading awareness among the masses on the importance of statistics in daily life.

He was delivering the keynote address of the ‘15th National Statistics Day’ celebrations of the Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Aligarh Muslim University to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Prof Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis and his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.

“The essence of statistics is to make sense out of data which can be done only when it is implemented sensibly,” he said highlighting the contributions of Prof Mahalanobis such as the establishment of Indian Statistical Institute, National Sample Survey Office, Central Statistics Office, and publication of the internationally reputed journal of statistics, Sankhya.

Prof Ashis reminded the leading researchers of his time from UK, USA, and Russia among other countries. 

Prof Qazi Mazhar Ali, Dean of Faculty of Science, said that by a good choice of data and that of efficient data analysis techniques, we can compete in the computer-intensive world.

He highlighted the potential available in the Faculty of Science in the form of collaborative work on Geospatial data.

In the plenary talks, Prof V Charles of Chief Analytics Officer, Anthrolytics Ltd. London, delineated the role of statistics in business, while AK Mishra, Additional Director General, Ministry of Statistics and Planning, New Delhi, discussed the role of statistics in sustainable development.

Prof Aquil Ahmed, Chairman, Department of Statistics and Operations Research, stressed popularising statistics in everyday life.

He informed that the Department of Statistics and Operations Research will begin an MSc in Data Science course from the 2021-22 academic session.

Dr. Fatima Siddiqui conducted the program and extended the vote of thanks.