Medan, June 27, 2026 – The Indonesian Forum for Higher Education in Statistics (FORSTAT), in collaboration with the Diploma program in Statistics and the Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Statistics of the Faculty of Vocational Education, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), organized the Statistics Professors Podcast (GB Talks) Season 8 Episode 30 virtually via Zoom Meeting on Saturday (June 27). The event featured Prof. Dr. Open Darnius, M.Sc., Professor at Universitas Sumatera Utara, as the keynote speaker on the theme "Extreme Value Theory and Risk Analysis."
Hosted by Citra Dewi Hasibuan, S.Si., M.Sc., the podcast was attended by academics, researchers, and students from various universities across Indonesia. The event served as a platform for knowledge sharing as well as an academic discussion forum on the advancement of statistical science and its application in analyzing various phenomena associated with high levels of risk.
In his presentation, Prof. Open Darnius explained that Extreme Value Theory (EVT) is a branch of statistics that focuses on the analysis of rare extreme events that occur infrequently but have significant impacts. This approach can be applied to understand and predict risks in various fields, including finance, healthcare, environmental studies, and disaster risk reduction.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of utilizing data and statistical methods to support more accurate, evidence-based decision-making. Amid the rapid advancement of technology and the increasing availability of data, mastering modern statistical concepts, including EVT, has become an essential competency for academics, researchers, and students alike.
The collaboration between FORSTAT and the Diploma program in Statistics and the Applied Bachelor's Degree Program in Statistics of the Faculty of Vocational Education, USU, through the organization of this podcast, represents an effort to strengthen academic culture, enhance statistical literacy, and expand scholarly networks at the national level. Through this event, participants were expected to gain new insights and be encouraged to continue developing their competencies in statistics to address the challenges of the data-driven era.