BPA & occupancy workshop | Oxford| August 2026

[Michael Schaub]

Intermediate-level workshop (in person)

Bayesian occupancy, N-mixture and population modelling using NIMBLE and JAGS

Instructors: Marc Kéry, Michael Schaub & Gesa von Hirschheydt
Date: 10–14 August 2026
Venue: University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Computers: Bring your own laptop with latest R, NIMBLE and JAGS
Registration: £750 (regular); £375 (PhD/Master students)

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

• Bayesian statistical inference and computation
• GLMs and generalized linear mixed models
• State-space models
• Site-occupancy models
• Cormack-Jolly-Seber models
• Multistate capture-recapture models
• N-mixture models
• Advanced use of NIMBLE (e.g. use of nimble functions, MCMC configuration)
• The joy of data simulation
• General integrated models 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 necessary. However, a good working knowledge of modern regression methods and of program R is required.

Please send your application to Marc (marc.kery@vogelwarte.ch), with cc to Michael (michael.schaub@vogelwarte.ch) and Gesa (geshir@ceh.ac.uk), describing your background and knowledge in statistical modelling, R and NIMBLE/JAGS, by 31 March 2026 at the latest. Workshop invitations will be sent out shortly afterwards.