Paintings and charts Paintings and charts have a lot in common. Like a painting, a statistical chart can be visually appealing, clear and with a good composition (or not!). Both paintings and charts convey information and can arouse emotions and stir the imagination. Understanding the meaning of both requires paying careful attention to detail and … Read more
Who switched the light on? In the history of statistics, the period from 1885-1935 is known as the ‘Statistical Enlightenment’ (Stigler, 2010). The outstanding contribution of two individuals from this period – Karl Pearson and R. A. Fisher – was the prime source of light that ‘pierced the darkness’. Try imagining a world of statistics … Read more
In May 2025, I took part in a panel discussion entitled We Need to Talk about History at the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) conference in Aberdeen. The panel members were Professor Bruce Lewenstein, Dr Felicity Mellor, Professor Agustí Nieto-Galan and myself. What brought us together was a common interest in the history … Read more