Larry Hedges to receive World Cultural Council’s 2023 World Award of Education

Larry Hedges, Board of Trustees Professor of Statistics and Education and Social Policy, has been selected as the winner of the World Cultural Council 2023 José Vasconcelos World Award of Education.

The Council described Hedges’ development of statistical methods for meta-analysis (the statistical analysis of the combined results of multiple studies) “groundbreaking,” and “a crucial tool in contemporary applied statistics.”

Hedges is one of the most influential applied statisticians in the world. His work in educational policy allows policymakers, educators and the general public to see the evidence for effective policies and training methods in the field of education, and makes it possible to take a scientific approach to improving education for future generations. Hedges is professor of psychology and medical social sciences, a fellow of the Institute for Policy Research, and co-director of the Statistics for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice (STEPP) Center at Northwestern University.

The José Vasconcelos World Award of Education is granted to a scholar, educator, or innovator who made “a significantly positive influence on the quality and reach of teaching and learning in our society.” José Vasconcelos, the Minister of Public Education in Mexico from 1920-1924, dedicated his life to bringing education to all people regardless of differences in cognitive abilities, gender, ethnicity, or social class.

“Prof. Hedges’s vision of education as a vehicle to promote societal equity mirrors the commitment of José Vasconcelos,” the Council said in their announcement.

Read more on IPR’s web page.