The NZSA Visiting Lecturer in 2005 is to be C.R. Rao (left), Eberly Professor of Statistics and Director of the Center for Multivariate Analysis at the Pennsylvania State University, one of the world leaders in statistical science over the last six decades.

He will be an invited speaker at the 14th International Workshop on Matrices and Statistics at Massey University, Albany Campus, and will also present a workshop on "Exploratory Data Analysis and Statistical Learning" hosted by the Waikato Centre for Applied Statistics. Professor Rao's itinerary while in New Zealand is given below.

His research, scholarship and professional services have had a profound influence on theory and applications of statistics. Two of his papers appear in Breakthroughs in Statistics for the last century. He is the author of 14 books and about 350 papers.

Rao received an MA degree in mathematics from Andhra University and an MA degree in statistics from Calcutta University. He then started doing research at the Indian Statistical Institute and continued at Cambridge University, UK, where he earned his PhD and ScD degrees.

As Head and later Director of the Research and Training School at the Indian Statistical Institute for a period of over 40 years, Rao developed research and training programs and produced outstanding students which "put India not far from the centre of the statistical map of the world". Over that time he promoted the study of statistics and its applications for socio-economic development, improving the quality of industrial production and decision making in general. After moving to the United States, he has been active during the last 24 years teaching and doing research work at American universities.

He has been the President of the International Biometric Society (1973-75), Institute of Mathematical Statistics (1976-77) and the International Statistical Institute (1977-79).

He has received numerous honours including the Gold Medal of Calcutta University, Wilks Medal of the ASA, Guy Medal in Silver of the RSS, J.C. Bose Gold Medal of Bose Institute and Mahalanobis Centenary Gold Medal of the Indian Science Congress. At the Berlin conference of the International Statistical Institute (2003), Rao received the prestigious International Mahalanobis Prize for lifetime achievement in statistics and the promotion of best statistical practice.

Rao was honored by the President of the USA (pictured below) with the prestigious National Medal of Science "as a prophet of new age" with the citation, "for his pioneering contributions to the foundations of statistical theory and multivariate statistical methodology and their applications, enriching the physical biological, mathematical, economic and engineering sciences".

The Government of India honored him with the second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan for "outstanding contributions to Science and Engineering/Statistics", and also instituted an award in honor of him for young statisticians.

Professor Rao's Itinerary