C Oswald George prize announcement 2025

The article entitled “Using interpolation in grade 5 to solve a mystery” by Jane Watson and Noleine Fitzallen, has won the C Oswald George prize for 2025. This article presents a forward-thinking approach to integrating statistical concepts into primary education through a hands-on STEM activity. It is an outstanding example of how statistical thinking can be meaningfully and creatively introduced into the primary classroom. The learning experience involves a rich and engaging topic based on the viscosity of hair conditioner, which introduces 10–11-year-olds to important concepts of statistical inquiry, and statistical reasoning, showing that interpolation is not merely a computational tool, but a gateway to problem-solving, curiosity, and evidence-based thinking. What distinguishes this paper is its well-executed integration of statistics, story, and pedagogy. By framing interpolation within a compelling “mystery,” the authors tap into children's natural desire to explore, transforming what could be a dry and procedural process, into an engaging intellectual adventure. The activity is well designed, developmentally appropriate, and grounded in research, demonstrating how primary students can reason with data in authentic and rigorous ways. This article offers teachers a model of statistics education that is playful and engaging, encouraging students to think beyond procedures and towards genuine interpretation and reasoning. In addition to the merits of the paper being an excellent example of a primary level statistical investigation, the article also generated significant interest in the statistical education community. This resulted in the previous editor of Teaching Statistics inviting 6 statistics education leaders across the globe, to comment on this article. These can be found in Teaching Statistics: Volume 47, Issue 3, (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14679639/2025/47/3) which includes a reaction to the discussant's papers, from the authors of this article. Outputs like these are essential, and demonstrate clear examples of critical scholarly engagement, in statistics education. “This is an engaging paper that demonstrates how statistics can be taught within meaningful STEM contexts, engaging students in authentic statistical investigation.” “The paper is accessible, creative, and impactful.” Dr. C. Oswald George was an eminent government statistician in the UK; one of the founders of the UK's Institute of Statisticians who served as Chairman and President. He donated a sum of money for the ‘best paper, especially submitted by younger authors, in the field of applied statistics’. The prize was subsequently attached to the Institute's own professional exams. After the formation of Teaching Statistics in 1979, the Institute made the prize money available for the best article in Teaching Statistics, and this prize has continued to be made available following the merger of the Institute with the Royal Statistical Society. Dr. C. Oswald George died on 6 January 1974, but we are pleased to be able to honour his legacy each year through the award of this prize to the ‘best’ article in Teaching Statistics.