BPA workshop | Switzerland | December 2025

[Michael Schaub]

Intermediate-level workshop (in person only)
Bayesian population analysis using NIMBLE and JAGS

Instructors: Marc Kéry, Michael Schaub, Jaume A. Badia-Boher, Fabian R. Ketwaroo, Matia H. Muller
Date: 8 – 12 December 2025
Venue: Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
Computers: Bring your own laptop with latest R, NIMBLE and JAGS
Registration: CHF 600 (regular); CHF 300 (students)

In the course we introduce many key models used in the analysis of distribution, abundance and animal demography, as well as their spatial and temporal patterns, in a Bayesian analysis framework. In concept, we follow the book “Bayesian population analysis using WinBUGS” (Academic Press, 2012), which will be handed out for free. We introduce statistical inference and computation, and use the programs R and NIMBLE (and occasionally JAGS) to fit and understand some of the most widely used models for the analysis of animal and plant populations. Models and topics include:

• GLMs and generalized linear mixed models
• Site-occupancy models
• Cormack-Jolly-Seber models
• Multistate capture-recapture models
• N-mixture models
• Spatial models for areal and geostatistical data (e.g. CAR and Gaussian processes)
• Advanced use of NIMBLE (e.g. use of nimble functions, MCMC configuration)
• The joy of data simulation
• General integrated and Integrated population models (IPMs)

In this intermediate-level workshop about 90% of the time is spent on lecturing and 10% on solving exercises. No previous experience with program NIMBLE or JAGS, or Bayesian statistics, is assumed. However, a good working knowledge of modern regression methods (ANOVA, ANCOVA, generalised linear models) and of program R is required.

Send your application to Michael Schaub (michael.schaub@vogelwarte.ch), with cc to Marc Kéry (marc.kery@vogelwarte.ch), describing your background and knowledge in statistical modelling, R and NIMBLE/JAGS, by 15 August 2025 at the latest. Workshop invitations will be sent out immediately afterwards.