Rising to the Occasion: A Tribute to women who have devoted themselves to mathematics and statistics

Every Year in March, it is a historic month for women in the United States. We honor and honor women who are pioneering, tenacious and influential. As the world responds to outbreaks, there is no doubt that the situation is very different from previous years.

In this spirit, we have spent some time presenting several of the many women in our field who have risen to the occasion and made outstanding contributions.

Florence Nightingale illustrates this in the form of data visualization

The truth of hygiene and hand washing

You probably know Florence Nightingale, known as the "Lady of the Palm Lamp" and the founder of modern nursing, but did you know that she was also a famous statistician?

Nightingale always felt called to care for and help others. After studying in France and Germany and serving as director of the London Shelter for The Sick and Infirm, she really started to make a name for herself by helping out at a British hospital in Turkey during the Crimean War. Nightingale noted the many problems with the hospital and addressed them properly, including improving hospital hygiene and patient care, as well as ensuring adequate medical supplies. Before leaving Turkey in 1856, she and her team helped drastically reduce mortality and improve hospital hygiene.

Nightingale, now famous, began sharing what she had learned when she returned to London on how to save lives by improving sanitation, handwashing and sanitation. To prove her point, Nightingale collected and analyzed medical data and presented them in the form of pictures in an extensive study, making it clear that the main cause of wartime death was a lack of sanitation, not a lack of medical care or inadequate food.

In particular, her data analysis shows that the mortality rate of British soldiers is 10 times that of combat deaths, and the mortality rate of British soldiers is twice that of civilians due to the lack of medical services in the army. Nightingale's work made her the first woman to be admitted to the Royal Statistical Society, and as a result, health policy reforms were carried out, which not only saved the lives of countless British soldiers, but continue to help save lives and ensure people's health to this day.

"Human Computer" Catherine Johnson

Help men land on the moon

Have you seen the 2016 award-winning film Hidden Figures? The film is roughly based on the story of Catherine Johnson and other black female mathematicians working at NASA during the space race era.

Since his teenage years, Johnson has been counting and has shown a strong interest in numbers and a great talent. She studied so fast in school that she was only 15 years old when she entered West Virginia State College, and one of her professors saw her as a research mathematician.

Johnson became a university professor until the door of opportunity opened to her: NACA (national aeronautical advisory committee, the predecessor of NASA) hired black female "calculators" to examine engineers' calculations. Johnson was also hired, but quickly stood out from the crowd because she was curious and always asked questions to understand the "why."

When President Kennedy proposed that the United States send someone to land on the moon, Johnson joined the team and calculated the trajectory of America's first space trip in 1961. Eventually, Johnson continued to be responsible for the calculations of the first actual moon landing in 1969. Johnson's tenacity and exploration-mindedness not only opened the door to opportunity for her, but also opened the eyes of other women and girls to know that chasing stars and dreams is not out of reach.

"First Lady of Statistics" Gertrude Cox

Treat statisticians as scientific partners

Gertrude Cox, an American statistician, founded the first experimental statistics department at North Carolina State University in 1941, earning her the influential title of "First Lady of Statistics."

Later, she was appointed director of the Statistical Research Institute at North Carolina University of Comprehensive And the Department of Statistical Research at North Carolina State University.

Cox's research was primarily about design of experiments. In 1934 she taught a course on experimental design at Iowa State University, but her design materials were not officially published until 1950, when she was collaborating with W. G. Cochrane on Design of Experiments, which subsequently became one of the most influential statistical books and is still in print today.

In 1949, Cox continued to break the mold and became the first female member to be inducted into the International Statistical Institute. In 1956, she was elected president of the American Statistical Association. When asked about career opportunities, Cox would answer that "women certainly shine in statistics." "Thanks to Cox's enthusiasm and influence, other women and girls have been able to follow in her footsteps and devote themselves to the field of statistics with enthusiasm.

Government economist Janet Norwood

Pave the way for future female leaders

Janet Norwood was Jimmy Carter's first female commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics appointed in 1979, and then Ronald Reagan reappointed her twice in the eighties. She often realizes that she is the only woman in the meetings of government agencies and professional associations, so she helps people to pay attention to, accept, and recognize women's presence and leadership.

Norwood initially worked as a part-time junior economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, but over time she rose through the ranks until she was appointed. Throughout her career at Norwood, she has been known for her integrity, professionalism and fairness. Her contributions focus on government statistics, including the unemployment rate and the consumer price index.

In 1989, she followed in the footsteps of Gertrude Cox and was elected president of the American Statistical Society. She has also held positions at the International Statistical Institute and the Urban Institute, as well as in several other professional associations. Norwood is a pioneer in many future women leaders.

A heartfelt thank you to all of these women and to all the women of the world who have dedicated themselves and created opportunities for me and other women in the past, present and future.