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The journal, published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, covers the full range of contemporary statistical thought

Sonia Petrone, Full Professor of Statistics at Bocconi's Department of Decision Sciences, has been chosen as Editor of Statistical Science, a top-tier peer-reviewed journal published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS).

Established in 1935, IMS is possibly the most prestigious scientific association for probability and statistics. IMS publications include top journals such as the Annals of Statistics, the Annals of Probability, Statistical Science, and highly prestigious monograph series. The purpose of IMS is to foster the development and dissemination of the theory and applications of statistics and probability. The Institute currently has about 4,000 members in all parts of the world.

The self-stated purpose of Statistical Science "is to convey the richness, breadth and unity of the field by presenting the full range of contemporary statistical thought at a moderate technical level, accessible to the wide community of practitioners, researchers and students of statistics and probability".

In 2011 Sonia Petrone was the first scholar based in Italy to be appointed to the IMS Council and now she's both the first Italian and the first woman Editor of Statistical Science.

"There are a few ideas I had started working on, including encouraging multidisciplinary contributions", she says, "and giving deserved space to women in Statistics. But there is something that has been weighing on my mind in these weeks, and I think we should be prepared to discuss it on Statistical Science, and that is the role of Statistics and related fields in the pandemic. On a personal level, I'm involved in sampling plans for a clear measurement of the contagion and in the design of strategies for monitoring and planning a phase 2. In addition, however, I'm also reflecting on our role and our impact as statisticians, now and in the future to help prevent this from happening again. I believe we have a lot to learn from this terrible crisis".

With the collaboration of Professor Chiara Sabatti (Stanford University) , Professor Petrone is planning a special volume of Statistical Science on COVID-19 topics. "I hope it will offer a high-level but accessible, constructive and helpful vision of the crucial role of Statistics in the COVID-19 crisis, in its many aspects. Statistics drives the most advanced scientific, medical, biological, genetic and pharmaceutical studies towards a vaccine, as well as underlying effective and shared data collection, and a proper and timely evaluation of risk and support to decisions".

"Still", she concludes, "life goes on and it is full of interesting, exciting challenges and topics for discussion, and I see a lot of exciting work coming for Statistical Science, and on my shoulders!".

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