Professor Sir Ian Diamond: How a National Statistics Institute responds to a pandemic

When the pandemic began there was a sudden and urgent need for data on which to base policy decisions affecting the whole population. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Government Statistical Service have become central to understanding the progress of COVID-19 and its impacts on the economy and society.

In this lecture Professor Sir Ian Diamond tells the story of how statistics have been developed and used to help manage the pandemic in the UK; and will discuss what this means for the future of UK Official Statistics.

This online event will be hosted by our Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith CBE. There will also be the opportunity to ask your questions to Sir Ian during the Q&A which will be chaired by Professor Jane Falkingham OBE, Director of the ESRC funded Centre for Population Change.

This event is organised in collaboration with the ESRC Centre for Population Change and Southampton Statistical Science Institute.