Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland

STAFF & STUDENTS : Staff Page

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Mark Brewer

Principal Consultant for Ecology & Environmental Science
Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland
BioSS Office
The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler
ABERDEEN, AB15 8QH, Scotland, UK.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 395125
Fax: +44 (0)1224 395010

Research Interests

My main statistical research interests are in the following areas:

  • Spatio-Temporal Modelling.
  • Compositional Data Analysis
  • Bayesian Mixture Modelling
  • Kernel Density Estimation

Working for BioSS gives me the opportunity to see statistical research as part of a wider picture, and methodological development as contributing to science in general. Having a permanent base at the Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen, enables me to work closely with applied scientists in ecology and environmental science.

Consultancy

The BioSS team at the Macaulay Institute provide a statistical consultancy service for Institute staff. We provide advice on experimental design, data collection and analysis. Where a project requires statistical input at a higher level, we can often arrange to do the work ourselves – in this regard, the dividing line between research and consultancy can become blurred, a phenomenon that in turn stimulates further methodological progress.

Recent projects include:

  • Using a Bayesian spatial approach for modelling the grazing impacts of deer and sheep across the uplands of Scotland
  • The forensics of soil: classification and discrimination (EPSRC-funded SoilFit project)
  • Spatial modelling of rook abundance data
  • End-member mixing analyses of storm run-off data via a Bayesian compositional model
  • More compositional model applications: components of soil; diets of starlings; identification of root mixtures
  • A mixture modelling analysis of bimodality in beak sizes of Darwin’s finches

Publications

Journal Publications