Statistical Advances Motivated by Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Abstract Number:

1727 

Submission Type:

Topic-Contributed Paper Session 

Participants:

David Stenning (1), David Stenning (1), Kelly Moran (2), Ky Potter (3), Joshua Speagle (4), Samantha Berek (2), Amanda Cook (5)

Institutions:

(1) Simon Fraser University, N/A, (2) N/A, N/A, (3) Simon Fraser University & Los Alamos National Laboratory, Canada, (4) University of Toronto, N/A, (5) McGill University, N/A

Chair:

David Stenning  
Simon Fraser University

Session Organizer:

David Stenning  
Simon Fraser University

Speaker(s):

Kelly Moran  
N/A
Kenzie Potter  
Simon Fraser University & Los Alamos National Laboratory
Joshua Speagle  
University of Toronto
Samantha Berek  
N/A
Amanda Cook  
McGill University

Session Description:

Advances in astrophysics and space sciences increasingly rely on innovative statistical methodology, which in turn is increasingly developed by Canadian or Canada-affiliated researchers. Canada is fast emerging as a leader in astrostatistics research, broadly defined, with world-class universities and research institutes, and unique resources such as the Canadian Astronomy Data Centre and the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment. This session will include four speakers, all of whom are affiliated with Canadian universities. They will discuss a variety of recent and exciting astrostatistics contributions, including, but not necessarily limited to: scalable Gaussian processes for modeling heteroskedastic spacecraft data; statistical signal processing for separating routine and anomalous ionospheric density fluctuations measured from the International Space Station; modeling globular cluster systems using hurdle models, errors-in-variables models, and zero-inflated count models; and trustworthy simulation-based inference methodology for astrophysical data. The talks will highlight how challenges in astrophysics and space sciences spur advances in statistical methodology, and how Canada is a leader in such interdisciplinary research.

Speakers and Tentative Presentation Titles:

Kelly Moran (Los Alamos National Lab and Simon Fraser University): Statistical methods for separating routine and anomalous ionospheric density fluctuations
Ky Potter (Simon Fraser University and Los Alamos National Lab): Scalable Gaussian processes for modeling heteroskedastic spacecraft data
Sam Berek (University of Toronto): Understanding star formation on the largest scales using the smallest galaxies: a statistical approach
Josh Speagle (University of Toronto): Uncertainty Quantification and Calibration in Stellar Parameter Estimation

Sponsors:

Section on Physical and Engineering Sciences 2
Section on Statistical Learning and Data Science 3
SSC (Statistical Society of Canada) 1

Theme: Communities in Action: Advancing Society

No

Applied

Yes

Estimated Audience Size

Small (<80)

I have read and understand that JSM participants must abide by the Participant Guidelines.

Yes

I understand and have communicated to my proposed speakers that JSM participants must register and pay the appropriate registration fee by June 1, 2026. The registration fee is nonrefundable.

I understand