The RSS statistical ambassadors programme is developing the public engagement skills of professional statisticians based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, to create a cohort of skilled volunteers willing and able to communicate and discuss statistics and data both for public audiences and within organisations.
Existing ambassadors have given media interviews, participated in public events, helped journalists and press officers understand statistical issues, written popular articles, and much more.
We are now accepting applications for a further ten ambassadors to join the programme.
The programme is primarily aimed at early-career statisticians (up to ten years in the profession), including postgraduate students, and those with limited public communication experience.
It aims to support and assist those who wish to engage proactively with public audiences (or more broadly, people who are not professional statisticians) about statistical matters, for example through the media, in person, or online. The programme is not aimed at those wishing to change careers into the media or into professional communication roles.
Statistical ambassadors will receive two days' training in communication skills, peer support from your fellow ambassadors and experts including RSS President, David Spiegelhalter, to enable you all to share advice and experiences, and reflect on and develop your skills.
We ask statistical ambassadors to be responsive to requests from the RSS for volunteer time for public engagement and to seek out opportunities to develop skills and experience in public engagement. Participation in the programme is eligible for the RSS CPD requirements.
For full details, and how to apply, download the call for applications (PDF). Applications close on 9 April 2018.