Statisticians from around the world are invited to attend the 42nd Annual Summer Institute of Applied Statistics to expand their ever-growing knowledge on the subject.
BYU statistics professors Gale Bryce (now emeritus professor) and Dennis Tolley first organized the Summer Institute in 1976 as a way for statisticians to network and share their research with one another. It has occurred every year since then.
This year’s event, held June 21 – 22 on BYU Campus, is once again hosted by BYU’s Department of Statistics. The keynote speaker is Virginia Tech professor Dr. Robert B. Gramacy.
Gramacy received bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and computer science, a master’s in computer science, and a doctorate in applied mathematics and statistics—all from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before joining the faculty at Virginia Tech, Gramacy was an associate professor of econometrics and statistics at the Booth School of Business and a fellow of the Computation Institute at the University of Chicago.
His research interests include Monte Carlo inference, Bayesian modeling methodology, statistical computing, nonparametric regression, sequential design, and optimization under uncertainty.
According to the Department of Statistics website, the conference will cover “statistical techniques at the interface between mathematical modeling via computer simulation, computer meta-modeling (i.e., emulation/surrogate modeling), calibration of computer models to data from field experiments, and model-based sequential design and optimization under uncertainty (a.k.a. Bayesian optimization).”
Additionally, at several junctures participants will examine real-world experiments from the physical and engineering sciences. This includes designing a hydrological remediation scheme for water sources threatened by underground contaminants, modeling the drag on satellites in orbit, and more.
All presentation slides and analyses will be reproduced and given as deliverables to participants.
To avoid late fees, participants should register by June 9. Check-in begins on June 21 at 8:30 a.m. in Room 223 of the James E. Talmage Building. The two-day event will culminate on June 22 with a dinner at La Jolla Groves in Provo at 6:30 p.m. Visit here for more information and to register.