Albert Pullerits grant

The aim of the young statistician’s grant named after Albert Pullerits is to promote statistics as a very important branch of science, to motivate young people interested in statistics to apply and develop statistical methods, and to strengthen Statistics Estonia’s collaboration with research institutions. Albert Pullerits (1892–1967) was the first leader of the Estonian State Central Bureau of Statistics and the founder and developer of Estonian official statistics.

Subject area

The subject area is determined by Statistics Estonia separately for every year. The subject area for 2012 is geostatistics.

Requirements for applicants

1. All persons whose Master’s, Bachelor’s, course- or diploma work, or publication (hereinafter the student’s work) has been completed in 2011 or 2012 essentially involves or develops a geostatistical method or uses statistical data for making spatial analyses: e.g. establishing spatial patterns (establishing different trends, clusters and flows); calculation of new data/values by various statistical methods (interpolation of spaces, calculation of spatial indices, etc.); modelling of the space using geostatistical methods are eligible to apply for the grant.
2. The student’s work submitted for the competition must meet the following requirements:
   • the author of the student’s work is 25 or younger in the year when he/she applies for the grant;
   • the student’s work is in compliance with the requirements set for the content and structure of the academic work;
   • the student’s work can be completed in collaboration with several students. In this case the contribution of the author applying for the grant must be specified;
   • the student’s work is in Estonian or in English;
   • the author of the student’s work is a permanent resident of Estonia.
3. The application must be supported by the following papers:
   • application letter in which the time and place of defence of the student’s work or of the publication’s release will be indicated (incl. the student’s speciality and educational institution), student’s contact data (e-mail address, telephone) and the contact data of the supervisor or reviewer (e-mail address, telephone), place of work or educational institution at the moment of submitting the application;
   • student’s work or publication on paper and electronically;
   • in case of articles the text connecting them;
   • in case of student’s work in English a summary in Estonian (2–3 pages);
   • opinion written by the supervisor or reviewer.
4. Student’s works together with the required documents are to be submitted to Statistics Estonia (15 Endla Str, Tallinn 15174, e-mail: statistika at stat dot ee, keyword Albert Pulleritsu preemia) until 7 September 2012 (incl.). Works submitted later are excluded from assessment.
5. Student’s work is submitted by the author or supervisor. One supervisor can nominate only one applicant.

Procedure and criteria of the assessment

1. For assessment of students’ works, an evaluation committee is established. The committee consists of the Head of the Methodology Department, a methodologist of the Methodology Department, a senior methodologist or methodologist-mathematician, representative(s) of the statistical department dealing with the subject area of the competition, a representative of the editorial council of Statistics Estonia and a member of the Statistical Council (excl. the representative from Statistics Estonia).
2. Members of the evaluation committee are approved by the Directive of the Director General of Statistics Estonia.
3. The number of members of the committee depends on the number of works submitted for the competition.
4. Members of the committee do not participate in assessing the works supervised or reviewed by them or when a member of the committee is not impartial for some other reason.
5. The committee takes into account the following criteria while assessing the students’ works:
   • Novelty of the conception
   • Methodology
   • Applicability of the results
6. In case of equal works, the prevalence is given to applicability of results.

Announcement and recognition of the winners

1. Statistics Estonia will announce the winner for the Albert Pullerits grant on the website of Statistics Estonia on 19 October 2012. The winner will be awarded the certificate of honour and a new iPad 16GB WIFI. The supervisor of the work will be awarded the certificate of honour.
2. The winner’s work will be published on the website of Statistics Estonia.
3. In case of a vacancy of a suitable job the nominee can have work practice in Statistics Estonia if he/she wishes.

Notification

The notice on the requirements for applicants will be published on the website of Statistics Estonia.
Additional information: tel +372 625 9300.