Fienberg

Fienberg, generally referring to Stephen E. Fienberg (1942-2016), was a Canadian statistician known for his contributions to Bayesian inference, categorical data analysis, privacy and confidentiality, and the use of statistics in public policy.

Life and Career:

Stephen E. Fienberg received his Ph.D. in statistics from Harvard University in 1968. He held faculty positions at the University of Chicago, the University of Minnesota, and Carnegie Mellon University, where he was the Maurice Falk University Professor of Statistics and Social Science. He was a prominent figure in the statistical community, serving as president of the American Statistical Association (ASA) in 1991 and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) in 1985-1986.

Major Contributions:

• Categorical Data Analysis: Fienberg made significant contributions to the development and application of methods for analyzing categorical data, particularly contingency tables. His work included developing techniques for log-linear models and addressing problems of sparse data.

• Bayesian Inference: He was a strong proponent of Bayesian statistical methods and worked on applying these methods to a range of problems, including social science research.

• Privacy and Confidentiality: Fienberg's research addressed the statistical challenges related to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of individuals in large datasets. He explored techniques for disclosure limitation and data anonymization.

• Statistics in Public Policy: Fienberg was actively involved in applying statistical methods to inform public policy decisions in areas such as criminal justice, education, and healthcare. He also engaged in debates regarding the ethical use of statistics.

Selected Publications:

Fienberg authored and co-authored numerous books and articles. Some of his notable publications include:

• The Analysis of Cross-Classified Categorical Data (1977)
• Statistics and the Law (co-authored)
• Who Counts? The Politics of Census-Taking in Contemporary America (co-authored)

Awards and Recognition:

Fienberg received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including being elected as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Royal Society of Canada. He was also awarded the Samuel S. Wilks Award by the American Statistical Association.

Legacy:

Stephen E. Fienberg's work has had a lasting impact on the field of statistics and its applications. He is remembered for his rigorous scholarship, his commitment to public service, and his mentorship of many students and young researchers. His research continues to be influential in diverse areas, from social science to public policy.