Stats Desk, our statistical consultancy service, is the longest-running help service on campus. It all began on 1 April 1994 as a three month trial. Statistics staff had been receiving frequent requests for advice and help from students and others, to the extent that this was potentially disrupting their work.
Initially the service was made available for three afternoons per week but this meant that the staff member on duty had to be in their office for the whole afternoon… also rather disruptive! It wasn’t too long before we moved to the present appointment-only system, operating a weekly rota. The duty statistician responds to new enquiries throughout that week and wherever possible she or he will see that enquiry through to its conclusion.
The core users of the service are postgrad students undertaking research projects and who need some “quants” advice. We can’t assist undergraduate students wanting help with coursework who should instead use the Maths and Stats clinic run by SLAS.
Stats Desk can also assist academic colleagues, and the supervisors of research students are welcome to come along to appointments.
The service is free of charge. We are supported by the Unit for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (UELT).
Find out more about the service