It’s in the numbers for new group

SINCE moving to town just over a year ago, statistician Ben Harrap had been searching for a group of fellow researchers and data enthusiasts to share his passion with.

Finding no existing networking groups for the field, Mr Harrap decided to form his own interest group.

“What I’m trying to do here in Ballarat is to connect other people who are working with data, with statistics and data science and build a network of people to get together and talk to each other,” he said.

“There’s lots of people who use data in their day-to-day work like economists, population modelling and health.

“I really want to meet other people especially people who share similar interests, data and research, and I’m also involved with the Statistical Society of Australia’s Victorian branch and every month they put on events and I hope to make them more accessible for people.”

As the secretary of the SSA’s Victorian branch, Mr Harrap said he hopes to incorporate online viewing parties of the organisation’s forums and events alongside the Ballarat activities.

“The Statistical Society put on events that will be of interest to their members, but are still accessible to a general audience and get statistics out there and get people interested,” he said.

“They tend to be put on in the Melbourne CBD, and I just had the idea to set up a hub in Ballarat and go to all of these events online, talk about it and ask questions afterwards.

“Professional researchers, post-grad, uni students and even high school students who want to talk about what they’re doing, bounce some ideas off other people, that’s what the group will hopefully be all about.”

In addition to networking, workshops and professional development opportunities, Mr Harrap said he hopes the group will foster friendships as a result of mutual research-related passions.

“I’ve just been getting in touch with Ballarat Health Services, Federation University and the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute just to meet other people doing data stuff,” he said.

“For anyone interested in statistics and data, I suggest they get in touch and I will add them to my mailing list and every month, I’ll be arranging a venue where we can go, listen to a talk and then afterwards catch up and chat with each other.”

To get involved in the research and data networking group, email [email protected] or call 0478 810 118.