Plate-forme Technologique de Support en Méthodologie et Calcul Statistique. Statistical Methodology and Computing Support Technological Platform

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1 Plate-forme Technologique de Support en Méthodologie et Calcul Statistique Statistical Methodology and Computing Support Technological Platform Bernadette Govaerts ISBA and SMCS IMMAQ - UCL Launch day April 30th UCL / 1 Why? Data are everywhere to support daily research and decision making Powerful computers and statistical software and methods are now available for data management and analysis but Most users of statistical tools are not expert statistics Launch day April 30th UCL / 2

2 Where are the needs in an university? Research To collect informative data To extract meaningful results from data To communicate scientific results Education Give students a + for their CV in teaching quantitative methods Society service Inform society about usefulness of statistical methods and support their use University logistic and administration Provide up to date technology to support scientists work Encourage administrative services to base their decisions on data Research and education in statistics Use applications to inspire research and support effective teaching Launch day April 30th UCL / 3 SMCS a platform to serve UCL needs What are the goals? Offer support to UCLouvain community in statistical methods and software Contribute to the quality and efficiency of research and teaching at UCLouvain SMCS presentation Statistical computation and consulting at UCL from SMCS team, clients and partners Competence domains Services offered Work organization and principles Launch day April 30th UCL / 4

3 SMCS a progressive (and success?) story 1992 Institute of statistics (STAT) of UCL created with 3 missions Give a structure for methodological and applied research activities Coordinate statistical teaching Offer services in statistical methods to UCL members ~1996 Services available before SMCS creation The statistical computing SAS server is hosted by the Institute of statistics One STAT statistical consultant offers support to UCL members STAT creates a statistical consulting course and an applied statistics seminar Other UCL entities are also active in statistical support (ESPO, MED, AGRO, ) 2007 SMCS created to improve services recognition and visibility 2010 SMCS becomes a technological platform in the new UCL structure. SMCS is hosted by the IMMAQ cross-sector research institute SMCS serves the three sectors of the UCLouvain community Launch day April 30th UCL / 5 SMCS team, client and partners SMCS : management and administration Head: B. Govaerts Executive committee President: D. Peeters User s Committee One member per research institute IMMAQ administrative staff Information system services SGSI SMCS team Consultants A. Guillet, N. Lefèvre, C. Bugli, C. Rasse + 6 ISBA researchers Academics: B. Govaerts, C. Legrand, C. Ritter Associate consultants (IACCHOS, IPSY, IREC, IRES) Teaching assistants PSP-MED Academic experts ISBA and other UCLouvain Institutes UCLouvain Clients Researchers, Students, Administrative staff External clients Students in statistics (courses, master thesis, stages) Launch day April 30th UCL / 6

4 SMCS competence domains Statistical methods Transversal : mixed models, nonparametric and multivariate methods, experimental design Disciplinary : biostatistics, psychometrics, data-mining Statistical software point and click software : SPSS, JMP, SAS Guide, SPAD.. Advanced statistical programming : SAS, R, STATA, MATLAB Software maintenance Input-Output tools Data management techniques Statistical results communication tools Launch day April 30th UCL / 7 SMCS services Consulting For individuals or research group Choice of adequate statistical methods, results interpretation Software choice, use and programming Training Open software courses On demand statistical methods or software courses. Initiatives to stimulate the use of adequate and new tools. Documenting Provide software/statistical documentation Technological follow-up of the software market and statistical tools Computing Statistical computing server (UNIX SAS, R, MATLAB ). Software sharing server (to be installed) Collaboration with SGSI in the institutional software choice and deployment. Networking Know where are the experts and maintain active contacts Stimulate interdisciplinary collaborations Launch day April 30th UCL / 8

5 SMCS work organization and spirit Work organization Web site available to enter support requests and find documentation «2 hours» consulting offered free of charge Other demands are accepted if time and competence is available Each consultant is specialized in some methods, software and areas of application. Work spirit Encourage researchers/clients autonomy Collective and proactive actions are prioritized Use of simple methods focused on the research question are encouraged. Advanced and new methods are promoted Launch day April 30th UCL / 9 SMCS a platform to serve UCL needs What are the goals? Offer support to UCLouvain community in statistical methods and software Contribute to the quality and efficiency of research and teaching at UCLouvain SMCS presentation Statistical computation and consulting at UCL from SMCS team, clients and partners Competence domains Services offered Work organization and principles and What s next? Launch day April 30th UCL / 10

6 What s next? With SMCS, statistical consulting and computation have a recognized place in the UCLouvain academic world Future success keys Give a priority to excellence with respect to quantity Keep focused on the client needs / respect their environment Maintain active cooperation with/between UCLouvain IT and stat partners Find alternative financing and keep support from university authorities More information? SMCS leaflet Meet SMCS consultants during the breaks! Examples of SMCS and UCL activities given in the next talks Launch day April 30th UCL / 11