SHORT COURSE: BAYESIAN MODELING FOR SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL DATA
The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) located in Annapolis, Maryland, will host a nine-day short course August 1–10, 2016, covering basic principles of using Bayesian models to gain insight from data. The goals of the course are to: + Provide a principles-based understanding of Bayesian methods needed to train students, evaluate papers and proposals, and solve research problems. + Communicate the statistical concepts and vocabulary needed to foster collaboration between ecologists, social scientists, and statisticians. + Provide the conceptual foundations and quantitative confidence needed for self-teaching modern analytical methods. The course is aimed at postdoc, researcher, and faculty participants. Grad students may also be considered. BACKGROUND Solutions to pressing environmental problems require understanding connections between human and natural systems. Analysis of these systems requires models that can deal with complexity, are able to exploit data from multiple sources, and are honest about uncertainty that arises in different ways. Synthesis of results from multiple studies is often required. Bayesian hierarchical models provide a powerful approach to analysis of socio-environmental problems that are complex and that require synthesis of knowledge. Past participants of this short course have worked on research questions including, but not limited to, the use of network analyses to understand measurement uncertainly in the context of extreme weather events, the study of governance effectiveness and fisheries biomass, and the relationship between advocacy group compositions and estuarine quality. ADDITIONAL INFO & APPLY Visit www.sesync.org/opportunities/bayesian-modeling-data-august-2016 for complete details about this short course. Applications must be received no later than January 20, 2016, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). There is no fee to attend, but participants are responsible for most of their own travel and accommodations. For those willing to share a room with another participant, SESYNC will provide local hotel accommodations. If a private hotel room is desired, SESYNC will cover 50% of hotel costs. Coffee/tea and lunch will be provided daily. (apologies for cross-posting)