Please find enclosed corrected directions to the venue - with apologies.
THE CAMBRIDGE STATISTICS DISCUSSION GROUP
Thursday 29th November 2001 7:15 for 7:45
Statistical Laboratory,
Centre for Mathematical Sciences,
Wilberforce Road
Cambridge
Olfactometry: or The Penrith Pong, EPA 1990 and
Reasonable Doubt
Ted Harding,
Ely,
Cambridgeshire
Abstract: The scene: A meat rendering plant near Penrith in Cumbria.
The context: Attempts by Eden District Council to impose conditions of
operation under the Environment Protection Act 1990, involving the
measurement of odour by Olfactometry, and the ensuing Public Enquiry
which dragged on for years.
The issue: Breach of a condition under EPA-90 is a criminal offence. When
this has a numerical expression, it is on all fours with Driving with
Excess Alcohol. What comparable standards of proof can be obtained for
environmental pollution? What is the value of Olfactometry for this purpose?
Some general issues: What is the statistical version of "Beyond reasonable
Doubt"? Is EPA-90 enforceable?
Speaker:
First job (1958-1964): Ballistics and missile guidance systems
at War Office/MOD, during which being faced with trials results
(of firing armour-piercing shot at armour plate) got me puzzled
about Statistics. This led to a year's study at I.C. under George
Barnard, followed by Aberdeen (1965-66) and Edinburgh (1966-69)
Depts of Statistics, then Cambridge University Statistical
Laboratory (1969-88) during which I became a very early member of
the Statistics Discussion Group. From 1988-2001 I was attached
to UMIST (Manchester) Dept of Mathematics, mainly doing a variety
of statistical consultancy. Since April 2001, a denizen of the
Fens and doing part-time consultancy with the Animal Health Trust
near Newmarket.
Directions:
The main entrance is reached from Clarkson Road by going along the
footpath to the right of the Newton Institute, and turning left through the
gatehouse towards the main building (Pavilion A), which has a glass front
and a curved grassed roof. The main entrance is in the middle of the glass
front. Coffee before the talk will be in the common room in Pavilion D,
and the talk will be in Meeting Room 4 in Pavilion A. Free Parking is
available after 5pm on Clarkson and Wilberforce Roads.
Next Meetings:
7th February - Ian MacPherson (PRISM Training & Consultancy Ltd) on
'Exploiting Biological Potential'.
7th March - James Wood (Animal Health Trust) on "Multilevel modelling of
racecourse fatalities: the younger the safer". '.
Supper: Some members eat regularly in the University Centre before
each talk meeting in the downstairs bar at 6pm. Feel free to join them.
Subscriptions: of 4 pounds per member are now due for the 2001-2002 session.
Cheques should be made payable to Robert Milroy and may be posted
to the secretary at the address below.
Secretary: Peter Watson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit,
15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 2EF;telephone 01223 355294 Extension 722;
E-mail [log in to unmask]
