Members Week blog
When we think about influence, it's easy to imagine it happening in obvious places: government departments, boardrooms or major research institutions. But some of the most meaningful influence begins elsewhere, through collaboration, volunteering and the sharing of expertise across disciplinary boundaries.
One of the strengths of statistics is that it does not belong to a single field. Statistical thinking can help us understand public health, improve education, inform environmental policy, support humanitarian work and deepen our understanding of the universe itself. Wherever there is data, there is an opportunity for statistics to make a difference. For members of the RSS, influence is often about taking that expertise beyond the traditional boundaries of the mathematical sciences and working alongside people from different backgrounds, professions and experiences.
Statisticians for Society
A great example of this is the RSS's
Statisticians for Society programme, which connects volunteer statisticians with charities, community organisations and campaigning groups that need analytical support but may not have access to specialist statistical expertise. By helping organisations better understand data, volunteers strengthen evidence bases, improve decision-making and support efforts to bring about meaningful change.
One project that will be featured during RSS Members Week involved volunteer statistician Michel Mesquita working with UNJUST to conduct an independent analysis of stop-and-search data. The project provided a clearer picture of racial disparities in policing and helped the organisation strengthen the evidence underpinning its campaigning and policy work. The collaboration illustrates the value of bringing statistical expertise into conversations that affect people's lives and communities.
S4S is currently seeking to expand its volunteer base, to ensure statistical knowledge is available to non-profit organisations across the UK. By
signing up and filling out a few details, you can apply to be part of a larger change in an area that matters to you and expand your impact.
The Mardia Prize
The RSS also promotes interdisciplinarity through the
Mardia Prize, which recognises projects that bring statistical knowledge into new domains and foster collaboration between disciplines.
Last year's prize was
awarded to Dr Eleni Elia, whose workshop series focused on using data-driven approaches to support displaced communities. Bringing together practitioners, policymakers, statisticians and data scientists, the programme demonstrated how statistical thinking can help address complex humanitarian challenges.
Feedback from participants highlighted the value of making statistics accessible beyond specialist audiences, praising the use of real-world examples to make statistical concepts understandable and relevant, the practical guidance on identifying data quality issues, and demonstrations of how technology can help interpret statistical research quickly and effectively.
We are delighted that the
2026 prize has been awarded to Dr Purvasha Chakravarti and Professor François-Xavier Briol of UCL Department of Statistical Science for their workshop series
Statistics Meets Fundamental Physics, which aims to bring statisticians and physicists together to tackle shared challenges and exchange knowledge across disciplinary boundaries.
Through workshops on theoretical and particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, the programme will encourage researchers to learn from one another and develop solutions that are both scientifically meaningful and statistically rigorous. It is an exciting example of how collaboration can benefit both disciplines.
As nominations remain open for future Mardia Prize applications, we encourage members to think ambitiously about where statistics can have an impact. Some of the most exciting developments happen when statistical expertise meets a new field, a different perspective or an unexpected challenge.
Influencing a data-driven future
This RSS Members Week, as we celebrate the theme of influence, it is worth remembering that influence is rarely a solo endeavour. It is often created through collaboration: statisticians working with charities, researchers working with policymakers, and experts sharing knowledge across disciplinary boundaries.
By connecting people, ideas and evidence, RSS members help ensure that statistics does not simply describe the world but plays an active role in improving it.
Apply for the 2027 Mardia Prize.
Learn more about Statisticians for Society and join the mailing list.