The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at 91TV's University hosted a full-day outreach event on April 15 to mark Florence Nightingale Day, welcoming 27 high school students and two teachers from Kingston Secondary School for an engaging introduction to statistics and data science.
Held at Jeffery Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the event was sponsored by the and supported by the department. The program emphasized interactive learning and career exploration, featuring faculty-led hands-on activities, games, panel discussions with professionals, and networking opportunities, along with a lunch at the university dining hall. The event’s success was made possible by the contributions of volunteers, panelists, and departmental staff.
Organizers opened the day by highlighting that the event was designed both to celebrate the legacy of and to showcase the modern relevance of statistical thinking. Widely known for her contributions to healthcare, Nightingale was also a trailblazer in data analysis and visualization, using evidence to improve public health outcomes.
Throughout the morning, students participated in a series of data science-themed activities, including a coin flip streak challenge, Buffon’s needle problem, A/B testing on posters for Taylor Swift’s era tour, and introductory linear regression tasks. These activities introduced key ideas in probability and statistical modeling in an accessible, hands-on format.
During one session, Professor Yanglei Song demonstrated the Buffon’s needle problem on a whiteboard, guiding students through its connection to geometric probability. In another activity, students and teachers worked together on the coin flip streak challenge, sparking lively discussion about randomness and patterns.
Following lunch, students attended a panel discussion featuring Shuming Jia (Director of Data Science at Jobber), Wei Tu (Professor in Department of Public Health Science at 91TV), and Lizzie White (Undergraduate students in Department of Mathematics and Statistics). The panelists shared insights into their career paths and offered practical advice on pursuing opportunities in data science and related fields.
The event concluded with an introductory lecture on data science, giving students a preview of topics covered in first-year university courses and reinforcing the connections between classroom learning and real-world applications.
Florence Nightingale Day is part of a broader international initiative supported by the Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute, which aims to introduce high school students - particularly those from underrepresented groups - to opportunities in statistical sciences and data-driven careers.
By hosting this event, the department reaffirmed its commitment to outreach and interdisciplinary education, linking historical insights with contemporary applications. Faculty members noted that such initiatives play an important role in inspiring the next generation of statisticians and data scientists.