David Vere-Jones (1936 - 2024)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Emeritus David Vere-Jones, a renowned figure in statistical seismology, who passed away on October 31, 2024.

Professor Vere-Jones was celebrated for his pioneering work in integrating stochastic point processes with traditional seismology, creating a mathematical framework for analyzing earthquake occurrences, magnitudes, and aftershocks. His landmark book on point processes remains essential, guiding researchers in this complex field.

Born in Croydon, London, on April 17, 1936, Vere-Jones spent his early years in England and New Zealand, excelling academically at Hutt Valley High School and later at Victoria University of Wellington. At Oxford, under the mentorship of David Kendall, he developed expertise in Markov chains and probability theory, later forging valuable collaborations with Russian mathematicians before returning to New Zealand to contribute significantly to seismology and applied mathematics.

Professor Vere-Jones spent four years at the Australian National University in Canberra and then a year in Manchester, where he presented his influential paper on earthquake modeling. Appointed to the Mathematics Chair at Victoria University of Wellington, he took on teaching and administrative roles, becoming a leader in statistical education. He led New Zealand’s University Entrance Board for Mathematics, chaired the Royal Society’s Education Committee, and promoted international statistical collaborations.

Honored for his contributions, Professor Vere-Jones was elected to the International Statistical Institute (1978), the Fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand (1982), and awarded life membership of the New Zealand Mathematical Society (2000). He received the ISI’s Henri Willem Methorst Medal in 1995, and in 2000, the New Zealand Science and Technology Gold Medal for his fundamental contributions to probability, statistics, and mathematical sciences.

Throughout his career, Professor Vere-Jones expanded his research in statistical seismology, contributing to workshops in Japan and China. His 1995 paper on earthquake forecasting, awarded the best article in the International Journal of Forecasting in 1997, symbolized his impact over four decades. His work also included advancements in Markov chain theory, non-negative matrices, and applied probability.

We extend our deepest condolences to Professor Vere-Jones’s family, friends, colleagues, and the many students and researchers profoundly influenced by his work. His legacy will continue to shape and inspire the fields of seismology and statistics for generations to come.

Jiancang Zhuang, Prof., Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Japan