Ross Taplin

Biography and Presentation

Ross Taplin is currently a Research Professor in the Curtin Business School. His PhD in Statistics (1991) from the University of Washington involved the robust analysis of agricultural field trials using Bayesian methods. While his early career involved the development of new statistical methods, he soon turned to his passion of using statistics (often relatively simple methods) in innovative ways to help people answer their scientific questions. This took him into many subjects across science (and beyond – he was even a Professor in Accounting); not only for academics but for industry and government. For over a decade he taught and refined methods for teaching statistical consulting skills to undergraduates (and not only for majors in statistics). He also spent 7 years as a Senior Technical Advisor employed within the Commonwealth Bank. In this talk Ross hopes to convey not only how statistical training can provide you with many opportunities, but also what to watch out for - how your statistical training can be a serious handicap.