Dunsmuir on statistics crisis

In an article in The Australian, 28 Feb 2007, William Dunsmuir, Professor of Statistics at UNSW, described the recent forum An Investment in Australia's Future: Why the Mathematical Sciences Matter, held in Canberra in early February. At the forum, speaker after speaker lamented Australia's poor investement in mathematics and statistics and the resulting shortage of graduates.

Prof Dunsmuir wrote however that there were a few positive signs:

"I left the Canberra forum feeling that although the mathematical sciences are at a critical point, there is hope for a turnaround. But this will not happen without the continued and collaborative efforts of the professional societies and peak bodies that attended the forum. Political support is crucial and there are very positive signs that this is emerging from both sides of politics."