The Institute for Social and Environmental Research Nepal (ISER-N), in partnership with the University of Michigan School of Public Health, hosted a dynamic two-day workshop titled "Building Your Biostatistics Toolbox" on May 22–23, 2025 at Fulbari, Chitwan. Participants included doctors from Bharatpur Hospital, Chitwan Medical College, and Bakulahar Hospital, along with researchers from academic institutions across Chitwan and ISER-N's in-house research team. The event aimed to enhance their capacity in biostatistical analysis.
May 05 – 09, 2025 |10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | ISER-N, Fulbari Campus
Workshop Trainer: Dr. Uttam Sharma
The training aimed to enhance the analytical capabilities of participants, equipping them with essential statistical tools and techniques for robust data analysis. Each day focusing on critical aspects of data analysis.
Topics included variable types (categorical, ordinal, continuous) and graphical tools like histograms, bar charts, and box plots. A hands-on session involved exploring real-world datasets to identify variables, outliers, and data entry issues.
Participants learned to compute measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and dispersion (variance, standard deviation). The session highlighted the difference between normal and skewed distributions, with practical exercises using village-level income data to calculate range and IQR.
The focus was on exploring trends, patterns, and the differences between correlation and causation. The Central Limit Theorem and random sampling were introduced, and participants engaged in simulations to understand sampling errors and variability.
On the final day, participants learned advanced multivariate regression techniques, including OLS and Logit models, which enabled them to explore relationships among multiple variables. The workshop concluded with participant presentations, where they applied these techniques to real-world data
The following participants attended the workshop and actively engaged in discussions and exercises throughout the program:
Mrs. Adina Gurung – ISER-N Data Manager
Kamana Ghimire – ISER-N Staff
Bibek Sapkota – ISER-N Staff
Deepika Bagale – ISER-N Staff
Kiran Poudel – ISER-N Staff
Prashiddha Sharma – Intern
Adarsha Pokhrel – Intern
December 02 – 05, 2024 |10:00 AM - 4:00 PM | ISER-N, Fulbari Campus
Workshop Trainers: Prof. Sarah Brauner-Otto, Khandys Agnant, Adina Gurung
The workshop was designed to enhance the statistical data analysis skills of ISER-N staff and students, targeting participants who wished to strengthen their analytical abilities and gain practical knowledge for academic and professional work. The Data Analysis Training using Stata software provided participants with an in-depth understanding of statistical techniques and tools essential for effective data handling. The workshop further aimed to equip individuals with the practical skills necessary to carry out advanced data analysis tasks using Stata.
On the first day, Adina Gurung opened with an introduction to ISERN and its goals. Professor Sarah then provided an overview of Stata Software, followed by talks on data types and their importance in statistical analysis. The session raised awareness of Stata’s role in various data analysis tasks. Instructor Khandys covered tabulation, code generation, recoding, data labeling, and practical exercises.
Day two focused on basic statistical concepts such as notation, normal distribution, measures of dispersion, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing—essential for understanding data behavior and conducting hypothesis-driven analysis. The sessions enabled participants to interpret statistical results accurately and apply insights to real-world problems.
Third day was focused on the estimation and interpretation of univariate and bivariate statistics. The participants learned how to analyze data for one variable (univariate) and two variables (bivariate), gaining practical skills in the interpretation of data and analysis of correlation.
On the final day, participants learned advanced multivariate regression techniques, including OLS and Logit models, enabling them to explore relationships among multiple variables. The workshop concluded with participant presentations, where they applied these techniques to real-world data.
The following participants attended the workshop and actively engaged in discussions and exercises throughout the program:
Dr. Ananta Dahal – Student
Asmi Paudel – Student
Bibek Sapkota – ISER-N Staff
Goma Rai – Student
Kamana Ghimire – ISER-N Staff
Manila Chaudhary – Student
Sabina Shrestha – Student
Shurendra Ghimire – Student
