New award named after Kyoto Prize laureate

The statistical sciences widely contributes to the latest sciences and technologies, such as the analysis of big data, data science or AI (Artificial Intelligence). On July 14, the Institute of Statistical Mathematics (ISM) and the Japan Statistical Society (JSS) announced “Akaike Memorial Lecture Award.” This award is given to the researchers whose achievement in the field of statistical sciences is internationally remarkable.

This award is named after Dr. Hirotugu Akaike (1927-2009), the 2006 Kyoto Prize laureate in Basic Sciences (Prize field: Mathematical Sciences).

In the early 1970’s, Dr. Hirotugu Akaike formulated the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), a new practical, yet versatile criterion for the selection of statistical models, based on basic concepts of information mathematics. This criterion is utilized in a wide range of areas including medicine, control engineering, economics and social sciences.