Living with the Improbability Principle

The seemingly paradoxical nature of probability and coincidence both fascinates and misleads us in our daily lives. Even more intriguing is how our cognitive biases persist despite understanding probability's fundamental principles. Drawing from David Hand's 'The Improbability Principle,' Ron Wasserstein, Executive Director of the American Statistical Association, explores the statistical foundations of coincidences, revealing why events we consider extraordinary actually occur with surprising regularity. This talk promises both enlightenment and gentle disillusionment as it unravels our cherished beliefs about chance and randomness.