RSSeNEWS to be determined...

The conference was opened by President Zuma who focused on the challenges facing statisticians caused by the global financial crisis. Trevor Manuel, the minister with responsibility for statistics in the South African cabinet, spoke passionately at both the opening ceremony and at a special meeting of young statisticians about the importance of data of integrity to address the development agenda. He encouraged statisticians to tell politicians not what they want to hear but what they need to hear. 

An innovation at this conference was a special event for the female participants. This ‘women in statistics' dinner took place at the City Hall which had been decorated in silver and pink for the occasion. 700 female statisticians met to encourage greater participation by women in statistics and to share experiences across the globe. They were addressed and entertained by Yvonne Chaka Chaka, a revered African singer who is an ambassador for UNICEF and who champions women's causes. 

The UK contingent was fairly small; RSS fellows were clearly saving time for our own 175th anniversary conference in Edinburgh. Our president, David Hand, represented RSS at a meeting of national statistical societies convened by Mary Sweetland on behalf of the committee on strengthening cooperation between ISI and national statistical societies.  

Striking memories remain of the lavish opening and closing ceremonies, the enthusiasm of the youth of South Africa for statistics, the wonderful singing of the school children and some excellent presentations by African statisticians on the use of their statistics in bringing about changes in their societies.

report by Mary Sweetland