Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

On IMS and the Bernoulli Society

Two recent issues of Bernoulli News (Vol. 7, No. 2 and Vol. 8, No. 1) carry a report by Jef Teugels on the creation of the Bernoulli Society. In particular, he deals with the role of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS) in, as he puts it, the conception of this society. He mentions the early relations between IMS and the Bernoulli Society or its forerunners which had not always been free of conflicts. It is all the more gratifying to see that these relations are now not only harmonious but also very productive as is manifest among others from their joint meetings, joint membership directories, and the respective Liaison Committees. Nevertheless the existence of two learned societies in the same subject area results in a rather complicated structure. Many people hesitate which society to join and there is necessarily duplication of work.

The two organizations differ in one important aspect: the Bernoulli Society, being a Section of the International Statistical Institute, is a world society. Moreover, it has a regional structure. There are regional substructures headed by "Committees"; such committees exist for East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Latin America, and others may follow. The IMS, in spite of its many members and some officers all over the world, is essentially a North American institution. Wouldn't it then be reasonable to unite the two societies by regarding IMS as the North American region of the Bernoulli Society? A much clearer, more logical, and more efficient structure of the activities in our fields would emerge. The need of having to choose between the two societies would be alleviated and superfluous duplication of work could be eliminated.

At first sight this idea may look absurd, given the weight of the IMS compared with the regions of the Bernoulli Society that exist now. However, the present structures and activities of the IMS would hardly be affected. Regional committees of the Bernoulli Society have always enjoyed a very large independence, giving themselves their own statutes, electing their officers, and organizing their publications and meetings. Members living outside a given region can of course order its publications and participate in its meetings. New opportunities would arise, for example by closer contacts between IMS and ISI.

It would certainly take some imagination to design the role of IMS as the North American Region of the Bernoulli Society. Problems like finances would have to be solved. Why not start thinking about it?

Klaus Krickeberg

Letter to the Editor