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Intellect

Annual Institute of Applied Statistics at BYU June 16-18

The 35th Annual Summer Institute of Applied Statistics, sponsored by the Brigham Young University Department of Statistics, will take place Wednesday through Friday, June 16-18, in 203 James E. Talmage Building. The topic will be “Bayesian Reliability” and will feature C. Shane Reese.

Registration for the course is available at statistics.byu.edu/summer_institute. Registration is open until 5 p.m. June 11. However, a $75 late fee will be added for registrations after June 2. Workshops will be held all day Wednesday and Thursday with morning classes Friday.

This course presents modern methods and techniques for analyzing reliability data from a Bayesian perspective. The adoption and application of Bayesian methods in virtually all branches of science and engineering have significantly increased over the past few decades. This increase is largely due to advances in simulation-based computational tools for implementing Bayesian methods.

Reese will use these tools, focusing on assessing the reliability of components and systems with particular attention to hierarchical models incorporating explanatory variables. Throughout the course, he will use Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms for implementing Bayesian analyses, algorithms that make the Bayesian approach to reliability computationally feasible and conceptually straightforward. Methods will be demonstrated using WinBUGS.

A BYU professor of statistics, Reese received a master’s degree from BYU and a doctorate from Texas A&M. His research interests include Bayesian hierarchical models, Bayesian optimal experimental design and sports statistics.

BYU faculty and students and LDS Church employees can obtain registration information by contacting Kathi Carter at BYU Department of Statistics, 223 TMCB, Provo, UT 84602, at kathi_carter@stat.byu.edu or at (801) 422-4506.

Writer: Brandon Garrett

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