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Student's theory attracts American interest
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March 5, 2003
Like most consumers when they fill up their car, Crystal Linkletter is more worried about the price of gas than how much of the liquid gold is in a gas company’s barrel. However, the Simon Fraser University student’s ability to predict the amount of fuel a producer has on hand, despite reporting delays, has impressed two national bodies in the United States.
For her master’s in science thesis, Linkletter determined the best method by which Texan natural gas producers could calculate their product on hand, without final production figures. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the American Statistical Association’s (ASA) advisory committee may adopt Linkletter’s methodology. They’ve invited her to present her thesis to them in Washington, DC. in April.
The EIA conducts and analyses surveys and produces models on energy use, production, availability and cost in the United States. Reporting delays can throw off estimations of the amount of energy products on hand. In fact, the EIA found its early predictions were consistently under final figures in Texas. The problem prompted the organization, in conjunction with the ASA, to award Linkletter a $12,000 US fellowship a year ago, after reviewing her research interest. Linkletter’s assignment was to help the EIA improve its monthly predictions of natural gas production in Texas in the face of three-month to year-long delays in getting confirmed production figures.
"I reviewed predicted and confirmed figures over a four-year period and found they varied by the same amount roughly," explains Linkletter whose hometown is Summerside, Prince Edward Island. "Based on that difference, I developed an adjustment factor which when applied to more recent predictions made them better match final figures."
Linkletter is particularly fascinated that the analytical technique she found works best for the EIA is also used to estimate AIDS cases and product failure rates while under warranty in the face of reporting delays. At age 23 Linkletter, a Vancouver resident, is already working on her doctoral thesis in statistics at SFU.
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(electronic photo file available)
Contact
Crystal Linkletter, cdlinkle@stat.sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
For her master’s in science thesis, Linkletter determined the best method by which Texan natural gas producers could calculate their product on hand, without final production figures. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the American Statistical Association’s (ASA) advisory committee may adopt Linkletter’s methodology. They’ve invited her to present her thesis to them in Washington, DC. in April.
The EIA conducts and analyses surveys and produces models on energy use, production, availability and cost in the United States. Reporting delays can throw off estimations of the amount of energy products on hand. In fact, the EIA found its early predictions were consistently under final figures in Texas. The problem prompted the organization, in conjunction with the ASA, to award Linkletter a $12,000 US fellowship a year ago, after reviewing her research interest. Linkletter’s assignment was to help the EIA improve its monthly predictions of natural gas production in Texas in the face of three-month to year-long delays in getting confirmed production figures.
"I reviewed predicted and confirmed figures over a four-year period and found they varied by the same amount roughly," explains Linkletter whose hometown is Summerside, Prince Edward Island. "Based on that difference, I developed an adjustment factor which when applied to more recent predictions made them better match final figures."
Linkletter is particularly fascinated that the analytical technique she found works best for the EIA is also used to estimate AIDS cases and product failure rates while under warranty in the face of reporting delays. At age 23 Linkletter, a Vancouver resident, is already working on her doctoral thesis in statistics at SFU.
—30—
(electronic photo file available)
Contact
Crystal Linkletter, cdlinkle@stat.sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, Media & PR, 604.291.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca