7th World Congress in Probability and Statistics
14 July 2008 to 19 July 2008

Jointly Sponsored by the Bernoulli Society and the
Institute of Mathematics Statistics

Under the auspices of the Bernoulli Society and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and organized jointly by the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability (DSAP), Department of Mathematics and the Institute for Mathematical Sciences, the 7th World Congress in Probability and Statistics was held at NUS from 14 to 19 July, 2008. This was the first time that this major event on the statistical calendar was held in Asia, and DSAP was honoured to have played a major role in organizing this prestigious conference. Featuring the latest scientific developments and applications in the field of probability and statistics, the event attracted close to 600 participants with a program that consisted of 13 main lectures delivered by some of the world's leading authorities, 34 invited sessions, 82 contributed sessions and 3 poster sessions. Two panel discussions were organized, one on the graduate curriculum in probability and the other one on the challenges and opportunities for statistics in the 21st century. There was also an "in memoriam" session to honour three giants in probability and statistics, David Kendall, Samuel Karlin and Chris Heyde, who sadly passed away in the year past.

On a lighter note, participants were treated to a Welcome Reception on Monday evening and a Special Reception on Tuesday evening to celebrate the landmark event that the Fields Medal was awarded in 2006 to a probabilist for the first time in history. Many participants enjoyed a city tour on Thursday afternoon. One of the highlights of the conference was the Conference Banquet on Thursday evening during which guests were treated to a memorable musical performance. Dr John Chen, brother of Professor Louis Chen, captivated the audience by his rendition of the famous Indonesian song "Bengawan Solo" in Mandarin and the old Chinese song "Three Years", with accompanists provided by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in the persons of the very talented and awards winning Dai Le (clarinet), Zhou Mi (cello) and a pianest who was none other than Bernard Lanskey, Director of the Conservatory. In between the two songs, the instrumental trio played the Second Movement of Violin Concerto composed and specially arranged by Professor Bernard Tan who is a physicist and our former Dean of Science!

The World Congress came to a happy conclusion on Saturday morning (19 July). All in all, the conference was a great success. It was an occasion for participants to exchange ideas and learn about the state of the art developments in probability and statistics, to catch up with old friends and to make new friends, and to experience the hospitality of uniquely Singapore.


World Congress Webpage

Photo Gallery

Opening Ceremony

	NUS President Choon Fong Shih and Professor Ruth Williams, Prof Louis Chen and Prof Saw Swee Hock	NUS President Shih shaking hands with President of the Institute of Mathematics Statistics
Guest of Honor -President Choon Fong Shih of NUS	Prof Louis Chen, Chair of Local Organizing Committee	Prof Ruth Williams, Chair of Scientific Program Committee
President of Bernoulli Society, Prof Jean Jacod	President of Institute of Mathematical Statistics, Prof Jianqing Fan	A Group Photo

Welcome Reception

Special Reception

NUS Provost Eng Chye Tan	Prof Wendelin Werner, 2006 Fields Medalist

Conference Banquet

Some of the main speakers

Alain-Sol Sznitman (Kolmogorov Lecture)	Alice Guionnet (Lévy Lecture)	David Spiegelhalter (Bernoulli Lecture)
Douglas Nychka (Public Lecture)	Jianqing Fan (Laplace Lecture)	Martin Barlow (IMS Medallion Lecture)
Peter McCullagh (Neyman Lecture)	Public Lecture on climate change	Richard Durrett (Wald Lectures)