Dr Rachel McCrea of the Statistical Ecology @ Kent group from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science is taking on the role of Director of the National Centre for Statistical Ecology (NCSE).

The NCSE is a joint research centre which aims to “develop, apply and communicate innovative statistical methods for collecting and analysing ecological data, thereby improving the understanding and management of wild populations and their environment”.  It was established in 2005 and the current consortium unites research excellence across the Universities of Kent, St Andrews, Bath, Bristol, Edinburgh, Essex, Exeter, Glasgow and Sheffield, together with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.  A number of project partners are actively involved with the centre, including Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Marine Scotland. The centre also has a considerable number of international members spanning the globe and initiated the world-leading biennial International Statistical Ecology Conference, the next of which will be hosted in Sydney in June 2020.

Rachel commenced this exciting role on 1st April, and together with the new Deputy Director, Professor Ruth King from the University of Edinburgh, looks forward to driving new NCSE initiatives. They have secured funding, jointly with the previous co-directors of the NCSE Professors Steve Buckland and Byron Morgan, to host an International Centre for Mathematical Sciences meeting in Edinburgh in June 2019 on the topic of Addressing Statistical Challenges of Modern Technological Advances.  This meeting will be used to identify future directions and associated thematic areas of the NCSE to ensure that the centre remains at the forefront of internationally leading statistical ecology research.  ​