SAMSI-SAVI Workshop on Astrostatistics - September 19-21, 2012

This three day workshop, to be held at SAMSI, will bring together astrophysicists and statisticians to brainstorm on advanced topics in statistical inference in the context of modern empirical astrophysics.

The importance of rigorous application of statistical methods to astrophysical data analysis has increased enormously in the last two decades. There has been a paradigm shift that involves constantly dealing with large data sets at multiple wavelengths, which requires complex automated processes that necessitate a diverse set of sophisticated statistical techniques. The current and upcoming astrophysics missions such as the SDSS, Planck, LSST and LIGO continue this trend to even larger data sets and parameter sets. The workshop will bring together astrophysicists from diverse sub-disciplines who have used statistical analysis in their research, and statisticians who have experience with statistical issues in astrophysics, in order to create a forum for extensive interactions on state-of-the-art statistical inference as applicable to astrophysical problems.

Tentative list of astronomy topics:
* Transients in Astrophysics: the search for transients, search for periodicities
* Large sky surveys, Dark Energy Survey
* Cosmic Microwave Background studies
* Galaxy Evolution
* Exoplanets
* Current missions (Fermi, SDSS, DES, Planck)
* Future missions (LSST, LIGO)

Tentative list of topics on improved statistical inference:
* Measurement Errors
* Non-Linear Data Transformation
* Gaussian Processes
* Data Mining
* Bayesian Methods

Partial list of confirmed speakers:
Debbie Bard, Stanford University
Jim Berger, Duke University
Kirk Borne, George Mason University
Andrew Connolly, University of Washington
Eric Ford, University of Florida
Fabrizia Guglielmetti, Max Planck Institute, Germany
Bhuvnesh Jain, University of Pennsylvania
Brandon Kelly, University of California, Santa Barbara
Ann Lee, Carnegie Mellon University
Tom Loredo, Cornell University
Hakeem Oluseyi, Florida Instiute of Technology
Harrison Prosper, Florida State University
Joseph Richards, University of California, Berkeley
Aneta Siemiginowska, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Risa Wechsler, Stanford University

APPLICATION

To begin the application process login and register, then click on "Apply for Workshop" button at the top of this page. When you have completed the form, be sure to click on the green "Submit" button.

This form also includes the application for financial support. You will be notified as soon as possible after your application if your participation will be possible; regrettably, limited seating will preclude acceptance of all applications. New researchers (graduate students, postdocs, and faculty in the early stages of their careers) and members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

The application/registration deadline is August 31, 2012. Note, however, that capacity might be reached before this deadline. Also, any application that requests support for expenses should typically be submitted at least 6 weeks in advance of the workshop.

Please make reservations at the Radisson RTP as soon as possible. The SAMSI room block and rate ($109) is effective until August 31, 2012. After this date, there is no guarantee a room will be available. If you have a change in plans, individual room reservations must be cancelled 72 hours prior to arrival. Check-in is at 3:00 PM; check-out is 12:00 noon.

If you need further information please send an email to md@samsi.info.