New Zealand Statistical Association Newsletter 64
September 2006
Waksberg Award - Alastair Scott
Campbell Award and Honorary Life Membership of NZSA - Jeff Hunter
Honorary Life Membership of NZSA- Jean Thompson
NZSA Campbell Award Criteria
Waksberg Award - Alastair Scott
Alastair
Scott has won the 2006 Waksberg Award from the American Statistical Association
and the Statistical Society of Canada, for his work on survey sampling.
The award was established by the journal Survey Methodology in honor of
Joseph Waksberg, who has made many important contributions to survey methodology.
Each year, as part of the Waksberg Invited Paper Series, a prominent survey
researcher is chosen to author a paper that reviews the development and
current state of a significant topic within the field of survey methodology,
and reflects the mixture of theory and practice that characterizes Waksberg's
work. Alastair's paper "The Analysis of Population-based Case Control
Studies" was presented as the 2006 Waksberg Lecture at Statistics
Canada's 23rd International Methodology Symposium on 3rd November, and
will appear in the December issue of Survey Methodology.
Campbell Award and Honorary Life Membership of NZSA – Jeff Hunter
Professor
Jeff Hunter has received the Campbell Award, the highest award of the
New Zealand Statistical Association, to recognise his contributions to
statistical research and education, and his services to the profession
of statistics. The award was presented at the Royal Society of New Zealand
Dinner in November (photos here).
Jeff’s research has been in Applied Probability, focusing on Markov and semi-Markov processes, generalized matrix inverses, queueing theory and two-dimensional renewal theory.
He has been the Professor of Statistics at both Massey University, Turitea and Albany Campuses, and was the Foundation Head of the Institute of Information and Mathematical Sciences at Massey University, Albany Campus.
He served on the New Zealand Statistical Association Executive for 13 years and was President over 1995-97. He was the NZSA representative on the RSNZ Committee on Mathematical and Information Sciences over 1993 – 1997 and served as its Chair over 1997 – 2002. Over the period 1997-98 he was Chair of a Review Committee to investigate the “State of the Mathematical Sciences in New Zealand”.
In 1993 Professor Hunter was elected as a Member of the International Statistical Institute. For his services to the Mathematical Sciences he was awarded a Bronze New Zealand Science & Technology Medal in 2003. In 2005 he gained an earned D.Sc. degree in Applied Probability from Massey University.
He has also been awarded Honorary Life Membership of
the New Zealand Statistical Association.
Honorary Life Membership of NZSA - Jean Thompson
Jean
Thompson has been granted Honorary Life Membership of the NZSA. Jean has
made an outstanding contribution to the Association over many years and
in many roles, including President (1991-93) and Secretary (1962-63, 1987-88).
She has also served for many years on the Education Committee.
NZSA
Campbell Award Criteria
This award was initiated in 1999 to promote statistics
within NZ and to recognise an individual’s contribution to the promotion
and development of statistics. The first recipient was Stan Roberts. Stan
will be remembered most recently for his efforts in the NZ statistics
history project. The award was given to him at the conference in
Wellington in 1999. The second recipient was Murray Jorgenson and the
award was given to him at the conference in Christchurch in 2001.
Then Harold Henderson received the third award in 2003. The criteria for the award are: publishing the best, recent, original statistical
research undertaken within NZ, or, making an outstanding contribution to statistical
education, or, playing a key role in consulting on a major,
innovative research project that has direct relevance to NZ, or, making a significant contribution to promoting
statistics within NZ. One point worth noting is that the award may only be
given to fully paid up members of the NZSA. All membership categories are
eligible. This could be a way of encouraging new members - promise new
members that they may one day be given an award! Please send your nominations to Jennifer Brown (J.Brown@math.canterbury.ac.nz)
or Harold Henderson (Harold.Henderson@agresearch.co.nz) Jennifer Brown