The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) and the Japanese Federation of Statistical Science Associations (JFSSA) have named Christian P. Robert, professor at the Université Paris Dauphine-PSL and the University of Warwick, as the recipient of the sixth Akaike Memorial Lecture Award.
“Professor Christian P. Robert is recognized for his outstanding contributions to modern Bayesian statistics and Bayesian computation,” the award committee said in a statement . Bayesian statistics and computation refer to the mathematical framework describing how a logical system updates based on new information. This framework is the foundation for machine learning. “A central theme of his work has been to show how Bayesian inference can be made operational in complex models, where exact calculation is often impossible. Through simulation-based methodology … he has helped transform Bayesian analysis into a practical framework for modern statistical science.”
Robert’s books — “The Bayesian Choice” and “Monte Carlo Statistical Methods,” co-authored with the late George Casella, who was a distinguished professor of statistics at the University of Florida — have educated generations of statisticians and remain major references for understanding Bayesian reasoning and computation in practice, the award committee said.
“Through these contributions and his service to the international statistical community, Professor Robert has strengthened the connection between Bayesian theory and modern statistical practice,” the committee said in their statement.
Formalized in May 2016, the award commemorates the achievements of the late Hirotugu Akaike, who served as director general of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics from 1986 to 1994 and as president of the Japan Statistical Society from January 1989 to December 1990. The Japan Statistical Society is now one of the member societies of JFSSA. Akaike joined ISM in 1952 and spent more than three decades making pioneering contributions, including to the development of the Time Series Analysis and Control software package that underpins such modern programming languages as Python and MATLAB. In the 1970s, he also introduced the Akaike Information Criterion, establishing a new paradigm in statistical modeling for evaluating predictive accuracy.
According to the award website, “This approach represented a radical departure from the statistical theories prevalent at the time and profoundly influenced a wide range of research fields.” He continued his work, eventually developing methods that facilitate the practical application of Bayesian modeling, paving the way for information processing analytics in the era of big data. His enduring contributions to statistical science have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Star, and the Kyoto Prize.
One memorial lecture awardee is selected every two years from among international researchers whose pioneering and far-reaching achievements are in the spirit of those of Akaike. The recipient is chosen by a committee from a nomination pool spanning experts in pure and applied research in mathematical sciences, mathematical engineering and other statistical sciences, including systems control and optimization algorithms. The awardee receives an honorarium, a commemorative plaque, and an opportunity to deliver the memorial lecture at the annual Japanese Joint Statistical Meeting.
This year, the meeting will take place in September at Yokohama City University in Kanagawa, Japan, where Robert will also take part in a question-and-answer session with several participants selected from among promising junior researchers in support of the award’s commitment to research development. The lecture and a summary of the discussion will be published as invited articles in the Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics , for which Robert served as an associate editor from 2003 to 2005.
About the Institute of Statistical Mathematics
The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) is part of Japan’s Research Organization of Information and Systems. Since its establishment in 1944, ISM has been internationally recognized for its research across the statistical sciences. Its activities include the long-running Japanese National Character Survey.
ISM comprises three departments: the Department of Advanced Data Science, the Department of Fundamental Statistical Mathematics, and the Department of Interdisciplinary Statistical Mathematics, as well as several specialized research centers and supporting units. Through these departments and centers, ISM promotes cutting-edge collaborative research with universities, research institutions, and industry in Japan and internationally.