Florence Nightingale is widely known as the founder of modern nursing, but she was also a ground-breaking statistician who is credited with inventing the pie chart.
Florence Nightingale Day is an international celebration that invites high school students, especially those from traditionally under-represented groups, to follow in her footsteps by exploring studies and careers in statistics and data sciences.
In British Columbia, Florence Nightingale Day 2023 will be co-hosted on Friday, February 3, by us—the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute (CANSSI)—and Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
The event will take place at SFU’s Burnaby campus and will include fun hands-on activities, panel discussions by university students and professionals, and opportunities for participants to talk to university students about their experiences and interest in studying statistics.
Career panelists will speak about their experiences working in different areas of statistical sciences, potential career paths, and higher education in the field. Students will have the opportunity to explore the field and have their questions answered during the session through lively conversations. The day will mix engaging activities with friendly discussions to offer a prospective future in statistical and data sciences. Lunch will also be provided for the students and teachers attending.
The day has three goals:
(All times are Pacific Time)
| Time | Activity |
| 9.30–10.00 | Registration |
| 10:00–10:15 | Welcome Talk |
| 10:15–11:00 | Undergraduate and Graduate Student Panel
|
| 11:00–11:15 | Break |
| 11:15–12:30 | Interactive Activities |
| 12:30–1:15 | Lunch |
| 1:15–2:00 | Career Panel
|
| 2:00–2:15 | Wrap-up |
| 2:15–3.15 | SFU Campus Tour |
Interested in participating as a student? Sign up here if you would like to attend on your own.
If you would like to bring a class of students to this event, we can make it easy by providing transportation and free lunch for your students.
Interested in participating as a teacher? Sign up here and we’ll get in touch.
We are looking for individuals to help us plan and organize the activities for this event. If you can help us either before the event or on the day, please let us know. There are lots of ways to get involved.
Interested in participating as a volunteer? Sign up here to get more information.
Florence Nightingale Day was launched in the U.S. in 2018. Since then, it has become an international one-day event with in-person activities for local high school students organized at colleges and universities and virtual activities for students from all over the world. In the U.S., it was celebrated at Ohio State University, Harvard University, and the University of Texas at Dallas in October 2022. It will be celebrated in British Columbia for the first time in February 2023.
CANSSI is a major co-sponsor and co-organizer of Florence Nightingale Day together with the Caucus for Women in Statistics and the American Statistical Association. It’s part of our developing effort to attract under-represented and disadvantaged high school students to study statistical and data sciences. Our vision is to expand Florence Nightingale Day to become a national event involving high school students across Canada.
In February 2023, CANSSI will support events at Simon Fraser University and the University of Toronto. Our goal is to expand the number of sites each year.
Check out these photos from the Florence Nightingale Day celebration organized by CANSSI Ontario and the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Toronto on April 9, 2022.
