ISBA Zellner Medals for Mike West and Fabrizio Ruggeri

The International Society for Bayesian Analysis (ISBA) has conferred its two inaugural Zellner Medals on IMS Fellow Mike West, the Arts & Sciences Professor of Statistics and Decision Sciences, a distinguished professor in the Department of Statistical Science at Duke University, and IMS member Fabrizio Ruggeri, Research Director of CNR-IMATI in Milan, Italy. Named for the founding President of the Society, the Zellner Medal is awarded once every two years to (at most two) statisticians in recognition of their “outstanding service to Bayesian statistics and the society.” 2014 was the first year of the award.

Mike West, who was one of the founders as well as a past President of the Society, received the 2014 inaugural award with a citation that noted: “A scientific life spent always at the top, and a vision of the future which became reality, from the work to establish ISBA as a society to its construction on sound bases.”

Fabrizio Ruggeri’s citation noted his “outstanding service to ISBA and ISBA local chapters around the world and his fundamental contributions in theory, methodology and novel applications of Bayesian philosophy.”

Terry Speed wins CSIRO Eureka Prize

For his superb leadership of the bioinformatics team at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, and his other contributions to the science of bioinformatics, Terry Speed has been awarded the CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. “Terry was one of the creators of the field of bioinformatics, and is one of the world’s leading statisticians,” Australian Museum Director and CEO Kim McKay said. “He also devotes tremendous effort to the people he works with. He has supervised over 60 postgraduate students, and mentored dozens of other researchers.”

Simon Tavaré to take presidency of London Mathematical Society

IMS Fellow Simon Tavaré has been announced as president-designate of the London Mathematical Society, UK. Simon Tavaré is the current director of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute and professor in Cambridge’s Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). His research centers around stochastic computational methods and cancer genomics – primarily the statistical analysis of microarray and second-generation sequencing technologies. Current LMS president Terry Lyons also expressed delight at the announcement of his successor, describing Tavaré as “a tremendous communicator.” Professor Tavaré will take up his post in November 2015.