James R. Thompson
Rice University

"The Age of Tukey"

Abstract
John Tukey ushered in a new era of statistics. He questioned the Fisherian assumptions of regular uncertainty and gave us insights into the irregularity of the real world. His life's work consisted largely in discovering how to collect and analyze data. As he learned, he gladly taught us ways of coping with a world where there was not only uncertainty, but uncertainty about uncertainty. As an academic couple, John and Elizabeth Tukey achieved the highest standards for wisdom and kindness.