From History to Horizon
The International Association for Statistical Computing was established during the 41st Session of the International Statistical Institute in 1977. As a distinguished section of the International Statistical Institute, it serves as a dynamic nexus for the exchange of technical expertise, connecting statisticians, computing professionals, organizations, institutions, governments, and the general public across the globe. Statistical computing, the symbiotic blend of statistical science and computer science, has been a transformative force since its roots in the 19th century. From the groundbreaking use of the Herman Hollerith machine to today's dynamic interplay with artificial intelligence, this discipline has unlocked solutions to complex real-world problems and navigates the complexities of large datasets.

As we confront the challenges and opportunities presented by the fourth wave of AI, the International Association for Statistical Computing stands as a global leader, guiding the field towards precision, interpretability, and innovation.

Connecting Beyond Borders
The International Association for Statistical Computing is governed by an Executive Committee elected for a two-year term. There are dedicated committees for specific administrative functions that support activities promoting cooperation across geographical regions. As of June 9, 2023, The International Association for Statistical Computing comprises three regional branches: the European Regional Section with 163 members, the Asian Regional Section with 137 members, and the Latin American Regional Section with 46 members.

Each branch is led by a chairperson. Additionally, there are two regional groups: the North American Member Group with 62 members and the African Member Group with 29 members. In total, there are 437 members from 75 countries within The International Association for Statistical Computing's regional branches and groups.

It is noteworthy that The International Association for Statistical Computing prioritizes supporting developing countries, actively promoting collaboration to bridge technological gaps and avoid leaving regions behind in the digital revolution. It evaluates statistical computing techniques, facilitates computer program exchange, and organises events, ensuring more equitable sharing of knowledge and resources and fostering global collaboration.

Pioneering Statistical Computing as A Global Leader and Educator

The International Association for Statistical Computing serves as the crucial hub for academic and knowledge sharing in the global field of statistical computing, offering abundant resources for professionals, researchers, professors, and students to nurture excellence in learning and knowledge sharing.

Journals
Under the umbrella of The International Association for Statistical Computing, two professional academic journals, namely the 'Journal of Data Science, Statistics, and Visualisation' launched in 2021 and 'Computational Statistics & Data Analysis' (CSDA: Impact Factor 1.8) have accumulated over 10,695 citations.

These journals are a testament to The International Association for Statistical Computing's commitment to academic excellence, providing a platform for cutting-edge research and insights in statistical computing. It’s worth mention that the Journal of Data Science, Statistics and Visualisation also provides opportunities for winners of the Data Analysis Competition to publish their work, fostering the exposure and impact of excellent research.

In addition, we actively contribute to the enhancement of everyone’s understanding in statistical computing by organizing, co-organizing, participating in, and guiding various conferences, workshops, webinars, and courses both online and in-person.

Activities 2023 and looking ahead
For example, in 2023, The International Association for Statistical Computing organized a total of 13 international conferences (5 hosted by IASC, 2 co-organized by IASC, and others under the auspices of different sections), 6 webinars (including one hosted by AMG), 1 ISI Course, and 1 data analysis competition.

Looking ahead to 2024, The International Association for Statistical Computing has planned to host at least four major international conference with three short courses or summer schools, by ARS, ERS, and LARS. Additionally, there will be a webinar by AMG.

Our aim
We aim to leverage the capabilities and strengths of the association, making optimal use of resources to facilitate interaction between International Statistical Institute and The International Association for Statistical Computing within the association, fostering communication with hosting locations, and sharing frontier research with local experts and students. These gatherings are not just meetings; they are incubators for innovation, collaboration, and advancement in statistical computing.

Everyone Counts and Thriving Together

The International Association for Statistical Computing places paramount importance on its commitment to empowering youth, embracing diversity, and ensuring sustainability while staying at the forefront of new technological advancements. Under the overarching theme of "everyone counts," The International Association for Statistical Computing incorporates these key principles from officer elections to conference topics, making geographical, gender, and cultural diversity, along with inclusivity, integral considerations.

In its events, the association goes beyond statistical and methodological analyses, addressing real-world global issues. For example, the focus for the 2023 Competition, "Data Analysis of Disasters, Illnesses, and Other Unfortunate Events," underscores IASC's dedication to leveraging statistical computing methods to address pressing challenges.

In the era where data reigns supreme, The International Association for Statistical Computing stands as a vital beacon of knowledge, fostering collaboration and innovation, and guiding the global community through the complex landscape of statistical computing in the digital age.

Website
To enhance the engagements to the association, we have implemented various strategies, all coordinated by the association's officers. Firstly, we are committed to redesigning or optimizing the organization's website to improve usability and present compelling content, attracting more individuals to participate in the organization's activities.

Social Media
Secondly, through social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, the Association actively works to increase the organization's visibility. Through regular email communications and News, we share the latest updates, events, research findings, etc., ensuring these communications have attention-grabbing titles and content to boost open rates.

Events
Lastly, we organize events for members and non-members to engage in discussions and interactions. This series of initiatives aims to inspire broader participation, driving the growth and vibrancy of the association.

Join
Join us in celebrating and participating in the essential work of the International Association for Statistical Computing as we continue to shape the future of statistical analysis, with a specific emphasis on empowering youth, embracing diversity, ensuring sustainability, and integrating new technologies in our interconnected, digital world.

The association's successful and sustainable development relies on robust support from its officers and members. The Executive Committee (EC) played a crucial role and seamlessly transitioned in 2023 with the election of new members, incl the president and officers. The collaboration between outgoing and incoming officers provided valuable guidance and insights.

The hybrid strategic meeting in December showcased the EC's efficiency and well- coordinated plans. Significant accomplishments include the successful establishment of a Nomination Committee and the proactive promotion of memberships. Closed-door sessions for the EC and JDSSV, along with interactions with domestic academic society, strategically covered diverse topics, exemplifying effective organizational approach.

Highlighted achievements include the coordination of conferences and courses by three sectional branches, such as the launch of COMPSTAT2024 and Statistics Week Taiwan 2024.

Another notable focus was the productive operation of the journal, with an emphasis on individual commitment in JDSSV's marketing. The camaraderie within the EC establishes a solid foundation for future collaboration.

On the financial front, the quality of various activities and the operational efficiency of the association are closely tied to budget management. In 2023, the association's budget was robust, with surplus funds returning to pre-pandemic levels. This financial stability has contributed to the successful execution of events and initiatives. Additionally, the association's influence has expanded, particularly in the active engagement of the African and North American sections, indicating IASC's successful efforts to broaden its reach.

With the accumulation of big data driven by the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, one crucial task in statistical computing is the exploration of new computational methods to accelerate effective data analysis.

Simultaneously, the design of computer simulations and numerical experiments is utilized to enhance existing analytical methods, ensuring the accuracy of statistical results. This is indispensable in various fields such as natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and technology.

In 2023, IASC has organized over 20 events internationally and sectionally, attracting a cumulative attendance of over 2,000 individuals (excluding the ISI WSC conference attendees).

The ARS Section has hosted events with over 400 attendees, while the ERS Section, LARS Section, and AMP have collectively reached over 300 participants. This indicates a keen interest in statistical computing post-pandemic and in light of technological advancements.

Spotlighted activities such as The IASC Data Analysis Competition 2023 recognized outstanding projects, while the DSSV-ECDA 2023 brought together experts in data science, statistics, and visualization.

The 12th IASC-ARS Conference showcased innovative statistical methods, featuring renowned speakers. These events reflect a commitment to advancing statistical knowledge and fostering international collaboration. Through these occasions, the aim is to expedite the flow of new knowledge in statistical computing and promote the application of statistical computing methods across diverse domains.

Engaging with scholars from different countries also contributes to raising the standards of statistical communities globally. The IASC provides researchers and policymakers with the latest statistical resources and knowledge, particularly in the application of analytical techniques and methods relevant to the trends in real-world big data, holding significant importance.

The sustainable development of the association relies on continuous public attention to statistical computing and ongoing support from its members. We anticipate the seamless and efficient operation of the association, with officers fulfilling their responsibilities and collaborating effectively. It is our hope that this will ignite and sustain members' interest and commitment to statistical computing. We look forward to smooth elections and recommendations for new members, as well as successful recruitment of new reviewers for our journals.

Continuous improvement will be achieved through feedback collection and the organization of presidential meetings, strategic, and administrative meetings to make necessary adjustments and enhancements.

As we look ahead to 2024, the IASC is gearing up for an exciting year, filled with events that promise to significantly advance the field of statistical computing.

The year starts off with the HiTEc Spring Course, scheduled for March 23-25 at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, Cyprus.

This is followed by a specialized Short Course on Bayes spaces for functional data analysis on May 14, offered both online and at the Università del Piemonte Orientale.

In June, the CSAMA 2024 Summer School in Bressanone-Brixen, Italy, will provide an in-depth exploration of advanced statistical methods.

The second half of the year starts with COMPSTAT 2024 (The 26th International Conference on Computational Statistics), a major event set for August 27-30 at the University of Giessen, Germany, expected to attract a diverse international audience.

As the year winds down, the focus shifts to Taiwan, with two significant events: the IASC-ARS Interim 2024 conference and Statistics Week Taiwan 2024 from December 9-15 at Academia Sinica, National Cheng Kung University, and National Taiwan University.

These events are part of IASC's commitment to fostering a global community in statistical computing. They are platforms for sharing knowledge, encouraging the use of statistical methods in new areas of application, and providing support and education to the next generation of statisticians.

In 2024, the IASC continues to play a crucial role in shaping the future of statistics in our increasingly digital world, maintaining a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and the advancement of statistical computing.