Statistical Methodology

Advances in science create demands for new statistical methodologies. Our research responds to the needs of our scientific collaborators, as they change the nature of the data they collect, the information they wish to extract from data, and the applications of this information.

New and emerging problems and challenges in biological and environmental sciences, along with increasing volumes and types of data being generate combine to motivate, and require, advances in statistical methodology. The Statistical Methodology Theme group contributes to those advances by developing and adapting methodology to solve these problems and to use these new types of data. One thread in this theme is hierarchical modelling and data fusion, which serves as an overarching framework for incorporating data from multiple sources, including spatially and/or temporally indexed data.

COVID-19 Wastewater work

Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) emerged as a key monitoring tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. BioSS developed an analysis pipeline that allows us to report the latest findings to the Scottish Government and other stakeholders.

Sustainable Agriculture Tools

Large-scale and Systems Modelling

RESAS-funded work which cuts across all methodological themes

image of Ken smiling with trees in the background

Ken Newman is Principal Researcher in Statistical Methodology

Lead contributors to this research area:

Related content

19 June, 2023

Building interdisciplinary solutions to modern ecological challenges

BioSS participated in a week-long workshop at the Bayes Centre in Edinburgh.

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Female potato cyst nematode Globodera Pallida containing eggs stained with fluorescent dye

Improving resistance to Potato Cyst Nematodes

Combining genetic data and Potato Cyst Nematode infection rates to inform future potato breeding programmes.

Case Study

sheep in a pen, looking towards the camera with fields in the background.

Investigating impacts of early life events on subsequent productivity in ewes

A study aiming to determine the impact of disease during early life on the longer-term performance of ewes.

Case Study

photo of Bled, Slovenia. In the background a snow-capped mountain and in the foreground evergreen trees dotted with hotels and other buildings.

16 May, 2023

Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission

Dave Miller attended the IWC in Slovenia.

News

19 January, 2023

INLA: past, present and future

BioSS attended a two-day discussion and information-sharing workshop at the University of Glasgow.

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Climate change and seabird demography

Potential climate-driven changes to seabird demography: implications for assessments of marine renewable energy development

Case Study

a field with plots of different barley varieties growing

Shading in winter barley variety trials

We investigated shading effects of neighbouring plots on estimates of varietal yield and proposed field layouts which mitigated their impact.

Case Study

Models of Winter Chilling in Blackcurrants

Statistical models of the relationship between winter chilling and spring growth in blackcurrants to enable breeders to select cultivars resilient to variable winters and help growers decide when to intervene to support insufficiently chilled plants.

Case Study