The University’s Dr Rachel McCrea of the Statistical Ecology @ Kent group from the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS) has been appointed Director of the National Centre for Statistical Ecology (NCSE).
The University of Kent is a founder member of the NCSE which aims to develop, apply and communicate innovative statistical methods for collecting and analysing ecological data to improve 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.
The NCSE also has a considerable number of international members spanning the globe and organises the biennial International Statistical Ecology Conference, the next sitting of which will be hosted in Sydney in June 2020.
Dr McCrea said she was looking forward to driving new NCSE initiatives within the role, starting with its next conference later in the summer. ‘We are hosting an International Centre for Mathematical Sciences meeting in Edinburgh in June 2019 on the topic of Addressing Statistical Challenges of Modern Technological Advances. This will be used to ensure that the centre remains at the forefront of internationally leading statistical ecology research.’