Kyoto Prize Laureate Hirotugu Akaike
to Speak at UCSD on Statistical Science

February 22, 2007

By Pat JaCoby

Three of the world’s foremost contributors to advanced technology, basic sciences and arts and philosophy will be honored in San Diego March 14-16 as Kyoto Prize Laureates, with the University of California, San Diego hosting Laureate Hirotugu Akaike for the basic science presentation at 4 p.m. March 15 at Calit2’s Atkinson Hall.

Akaike, a statistician from the Institute for Statistical Mathematics in Tokyo, developed a powerful modeling tool now known as the “Akaike Information Criterion” (AIC) that allows relationships to be identified within vast volumes of numeric data. Since he first scribbled it onto a party invitation while riding the subway in 1970, the AIC has been adopted in virtually every field of engineering, with applications in wireless communications, digital imaging, gene analysis, economics, weather forecasting and manufacturing.

The presentation in Atkinson Hall will include visible examples of how Akaike’s criterion improves digital photographs in such fields as medicine, astronomy and homeland security.

Mark H. Thiemens, dean of the UCSD Division of Physical Sciences and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, will serve as master of ceremonies. Invited scholars who will speak following Akaike’s presentation include Richard Puetter, an astrophysicist with the UCSD Center for Astrophysics and Spaces Sciences; Kenneth Burnham, Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and mathematician Heisuku Hironaka, professor emeritus of Harvard and Kyoto universities.

A screening of the Nov. 10, 2006 presentation of Japan’s 22nd annual Kyoto Prizes in super high-definition 4K digital cinema will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Atkinson Hall preceding Akaike’s lecture.

San Diego State University will host the presentation on Advanced Technology by Leonard A. Herzenberg at 9:30 a.m. March 15, and the University of San Diego will hold the Arts and Philosophy presentation by designer Issey Miyake at 3:30 p.m. March 16.

All public lecture events are free. Registration may be made at www.kyotoprize.org.

 

Media Contact: Pat JaCoby, 858-534-7404