ISISEA supported ICMSA 2023: Elevating the Role of Mathematics and Statistics in Achieving SDGs

The Statistics Department of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) hosted the 18th International Conference on Mathematics, Statistics, and Applications (ICMSA 2023) on April 10-11, 2023, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Supported by the International Statistical Institute Southeast Asia (ISISEA), the IMT-GT (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Growth Triangle) consortium, and Forum Pendidikan Tinggi Statistika (FORSTAT), the conference aimed to promote the transformative power of mathematics in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The theme of ICMSA 2023 was ‘Advancing Data Science in Accelerating Achievement of SDGs.’ The event was organized by the Statistics Department of FMIPA USK and held in a hybrid format, combining in-person sessions at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) USK and online participation via Zoom and YouTube.

Key activities during the conference included plenary sessions, parallel sessions, and special sessions. The plenary sessions featured three keynote speakers: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Vollmer from the University of Göttingen, Germany; Prof. Dr. Don McNeil from Prince of Songkla University, Thailand; and Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Heri Kuswanto from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Indonesia.

The parallel sessions included presentations of 45 research articles from various countries, covering themes such as information sciences, artificial intelligence, data sciences, and computational & applied statistics. The special session showcased five selected articles from student research on "Aceh Dalam Angka," produced by the Aceh Provincial Statistics Agency (BPS).

The conference saw over 300 participants attending offline and more than 100 participants joining online from diverse backgrounds, including academia, practitioners, students, and the general public. ICMSA 2023 set a new standard for future conferences, emphasizing continuous improvement in format and scope. The sessions attracted considerable interest, reflected in the submission of a large number of high-quality papers from institutions worldwide. Through a rigorous review process, 13 outstanding papers were selected for inclusion in the Book of Applied Mathematics, ensuring significant mathematical research is fully documented and disseminated.

Conference Details:
- Dates: April 10-11, 2023
- Location: Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Aceh, Indonesia
- Organizer: ICMSA 2023, Statistics Department, Universitas Syiah Kuala
- Sponsors: Universitas Syiah Kuala

By showcasing the transformative power of mathematics in achieving the SDGs, ICMSA 2023 demonstrated the critical role of mathematical sciences in addressing global challenges and fostering scientific progress. The next ICMSA will be held in Malaysia in 2024.