It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Adrian Bowman, who passed away suddenly aged 71 whilst on holiday in the Orkney Islands.
Adrian was internationally recognised for his pioneering work in nonparametric smoothing, generalized additive models, statistical graphics, and computational statistics. His 1997 book
Applied Smoothing Techniques for Data Analysis (written with Adelchi Azzalini) became a standard reference for statisticians and data scientists, while his software, particularly the
sm and
rpanel packages for R, made sophisticated statistical methods accessible to researchers and students around the world. He was also a significant player in developments in the teaching of statistics, not least through his role in the Computers in Teaching Initiative (CTI) in the 80s and 90s.
Adrian joined the University of Glasgow in 1986. Glasgow became his academic home for the remainder of his career. During more than thirty years at the university, he played a central role in developing the Department of Statistics — and later the School of Mathematics and Statistics — into a department recognised internationally for excellence in both methodological and applied statistics. He was appointed Professor of Statistics in 1999 and served as Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics from 2014 until 2018. The University established the annual Bowman Lectures in 2019, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the institution and to mathematical sciences, and he became Emeritus Professor on his retirement in 2020.
Adrian had been an RSS fellow since 1977 and served on Council, the Research Section Committee (including as Honorary Secretary), Careers Promotion Committee (as Chair) and Obituaries Commissioning Panel. He was also editor of
Series C of the journal from 1999-2001 and the RSS Guy Lecturer in 2000. He served as Honorary Officer for Membership Services and Recruitment to the Society from 2008-2009.
Adrian was well known for his kindness and generosity. His sudden death is a profound loss to the University of Glasgow, to the wider statistical community, and to all who had the privilege of working with him.
An
online book of remembrance has been set up share thoughts, memories and condolences. Adrian’s funeral service will be held on Friday 24 July, at 3.30pm at Clydebank Crematorium followed by a Thanksgiving service at 5pm in St Johns Renfield Church, Kelvindale. All are welcome at either or both.
Our sincere condolences go out to Adrian’s family, colleagues and friends at this time. A full obituary will be published in a forthcoming edition of our
Series A journal.