IMS Fund Supporting International Meetings in Probability, Statistics and Allied Areas (SIMPSAA)

The Institute of Mathematical Statistics is committed to supporting the probability, statistics, and data science communities worldwide. This initiative seeks to establish an IMS fund that provides funding support for workshops, meetings, and schools in these subjects in under-resourced regions of the world.

The IMS will set aside funds up to USD 30k per year, initially. Funds may be used to support a series of workshops over 2–3 years or a one-off workshop. Funding will be allocated only to compelling programs that demonstrate the funds will be put to good use.

The IMS is particularly interested in supporting individuals. IMS funds can be used for a person’s travel and accommodation only if the person is an IMS member, unless under exceptional circumstances. IMS membership is free for students, and reduced for recent graduates and those living in developing countries.

Organizers should prominently advertise the IMS in their meeting, and encourage participants to become IMS members; an explanation of how they will do so will be an important part of the application and factored into the decision-making, in addition to scientific criteria. Organizers who receive funding for an event will be required to send a brief post-activity report within a month of the conference’s completion, outlining precisely how the funds were used, how the IMS was advertised at the conference, and including any quotes from students and speakers about how they benefited from the conference. If funding is granted for a conference series, subsequent funding may be predicated on the proper use of funds from the previous meeting and the timely submission of a report. Organizers may be invited to share their activities by writing an article in the IMS Bulletin.

To apply for this fund you need to complete the application form linked from https://imstat.org/ims-awards/simpsaa/ providing sufficient information for the committee to assess its impact. There will be two application deadlines (February 28 and August 31) per year for workshops, meetings, and schools to be held within 6–15 months. Decisions will be made within 1–2 months of the application deadline for that cycle.

Contributions to the SIMPSAA fund are welcome! To make a donation, please visit https://imstat.org/contribute-to-the-ims/