We are delighted that Professor Ingram Olkin (Stanford University) will be the NZSA Visiting Lecturer for 2010. His visit will be associated with our next conference and the joint International Conference on Statistical Methodologies and Related Topics celebrating the contribution of Chin-Diew Lai.

Dr Olkin is an icon in the world statistical community, having been active for over 60 years. He is a member of many professional societies, has received many honours and awards, has held and holds many editorial positions, and has delivered numerous invited addresses all over the world. Ingram has coauthored 7 books, edited 10 books, and contributed 220 journal papers. His joint paper with Albert Marshall “A multivariate exponential distribution” was cited in 610 articles – a testament to high calibre research.

Dr Olkin’s work is aimed at ensuring that educators select the proper statistical tools for measuring the outcomes of their programs and methods, and that their interpretation of the results is similarly rigorous. His research includes the development of powerful new statistical methods for combining results from independent studies that have analysed the same topic. Meta-analysis is assisting researchers to reconsider long-standing educational problems with a fresh critical eye.

Dr Olkin is a Guggenheim, Fulbright, and Lady Davis Fellow, with an honorary Doctorate from De Montfort University. He received his BS in mathematics at the City College of New York, his MA from Columbia University, and his PhD from the University of North Carolina. Dr Olkin’s research interests include analysis of social and behavioural models; multivariate statistical analysis; correlational and regression models in educational processes and meta-analysis.

Dr Olkin will be visiting NZ universities and giving seminars. An approximate schedule is given below. For up-to-date information check the NZSA website or email g.jones@massey.ac.nz.