Bernard Silverman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernard Silverman
FRS FAcSS
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Silverman in 2008
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| Born | 22 February 1952 London, England
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| Education | City of London School |
| Alma mater | Cambridge University |
| Known for | density estimation, nonparametric regression, functional data analysis |
| Awards | Mayhew Prize (1974) Smith's Prize (1976) Gold Medal International Mathematical Olympiad Guy Medal (Bronze, 1984) (Silver, 1997) COPSS Presidents' Award (1991) Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Statistician |
| Institutions | University of Oxford |
| Thesis | Data Analysis: Some Theory and Practice (1978) |
| Doctoral advisor | D. G. Kendall |
Sir Bernard Walter Silverman (born 22 February 1952) is a British expert in statistics. He is known for his important work in understanding and using data. He was the leader, called "Master," of St Peter's College, Oxford, from 2003 to 2009.
Sir Bernard is part of the Statistics Department at Oxford University. He has also worked with groups like the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, which studies human health, and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, which focuses on business and the environment. He was even the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Home Office, a big government department in the UK. In 2018, he was made a knight for his public service and contributions to science.
Contents
Bernard's Early Life and Education
Bernard Silverman went to the City of London School from 1961 to 1969. He attended this independent school with a special scholarship. After that, he studied at Jesus College at the University of Cambridge. He was a very bright student and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. He also completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1977 and a Doctor of Science degree in 1989, both from Cambridge.
Bernard's Career in Statistics
Sir Bernard Silverman has had a long and impressive career. He started as a research student at Cambridge. Later, he worked as a lecturer and then a professor of statistics at the University of Bath. He also led the statistics group there.
From 1993 to 2003, he was a Professor of Statistics at the University of Bristol. He was also the "Henry Overton Wills Professor of Mathematics" there. This shows how important his work in mathematics and statistics was.
Leading St Peter's College
In 2003, Sir Bernard became the Master of St Peter's College, Oxford. This is a big leadership role at a famous university. He stayed in this position until 2009.
Working for the Government
From 2010 to 2017, Sir Bernard was the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Home Office. In this role, he gave scientific advice to the government on important issues. This helped the government make decisions based on facts and research.
Current Work
Even after his time at the Home Office, Sir Bernard continues to contribute to science. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford. He also works with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. From 2018 to 2022, he was a Professor of Modern Slavery Statistics at the Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham. This shows his commitment to using statistics to help solve real-world problems.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Sir Bernard Silverman has received many awards for his work:
- In 1970, he won a Gold Medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad, which is a competition for young mathematicians from all over the world.
- He received the Mayhew Prize in 1974 and the Smith's Prize in 1976 from Cambridge University.
- The Royal Statistical Society gave him the Guy Medal in Bronze in 1984 and in Silver in 1995. These medals are for excellent work in statistics.
- In 1991, he won the Presidents' Award from the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies.
- In 1997, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- In 2018, he was made a Knight Bachelor by the Queen for his public service and contributions to science.
Bernard's Church Work
Sir Bernard Silverman was also involved with the Church of England. He was ordained as a deacon in 1999 and a priest in 2000. He served as an honorary assistant curate at churches in Bristol and Oxford for many years. This shows his dedication to both science and his faith.
Sources and links
- Bernard Silverman's CV
- Bernard Silverman home page
- Bernard Silverman's results at International Mathematical Olympiad
- Prof Bernard Silverman, FRS at Debrett's People of Today
