Saritha Kodikara

What was your relationship with maths and stats like in school?

I always liked maths, it felt easy to me. I used to love teaching other kids maths, I was at a boarding school and would always teach the other students before the exam. I always listened very carefully in maths class and I would come home and rethink what they taught, what it meant. I used to ask so many questions!

Why did you study mathematics or statistics at university?

I knew that maths came naturally to me. I always thought I would be a maths teacher, because that was all I had seen that people could do with maths. When I started my undergraduate degree, one of my friends came up to me on the first day and said, “Don’t study statistics, you will not get the degree!” That made an impact, so I enrolled in mathematics, physics, and chemistry.

Coincidentally, I found myself attending Professor Sarath Banneheka's statistics lecture that same day. In that lecture, I began to see statistics not as a mere collection of numbers and formulas but as a powerful tool for understanding the world around us. So, I thought even if I don’t get my degree, I think it’s a useful subject to do! I ended up studying statistics, mathematics and computer science. It was a fortuitous twist of fate that led me to that lecture, and I am grateful for the impact it had on my life.

What did you do to get from school to where you are today?

I finished my Bachelors degree in Sri Lanka with a specialisation in statistics. Then I began my career in insurance with hopes of becoming an Actuary. But life had a twist in store. I'd always dreamed of a PhD, so I applied to programs in Melbourne, where my brother lived, and ended up doing a PhD program focused on an ecological problem, analysing species sighting records to predict extinction dates.

What are you most proud of achieving in your career so far?

I’m proud of getting my PhD, but the day I read the email that I got the interview for my current position was my proudest moment. I was thinking I won’t apply because I’m not going to get it, and then it came to the last day for applications and I thought, “What have I got to lose?”. When I got the interview that was exciting!

What is the best thing about working in maths and stats?

I like that it’s challenging! Statistics has so much freedom. You can use data to solve different problems in any area.

What is the worst thing about working in maths and stats?

The best and, well, simultaneously the trickiest part about math and stats, in my book, is that they're flat-out challenging! You've got these ideas that make total sense in your head, but then you throw real-world data into the mix, and it's like trying to solve a mystery without any clues.

Do you think of yourself as a mathematician or a statistician?

I see myself as a statistician, I work more with the data and the challenges that come from the data. I use statistical models and methods to solve the problems.

What is your favourite mathematical theorem/lemma/fact/quirk?

In statistics I really like the Central Limit Theorem, as it simplifies the modelling process.

Do you have any advice for your younger self or someone interested in maths?

Be open to different experiences. When someone gives you advice, remember there are personal differences. Even if someone says, “maths is hard”, or something like that, it might not be hard for you! But if you think that it’s hard and you go in with that mindset, that will have an impact. So, if someone asks for advice, I will always say this is just based on my experiences.