Women in Mathematics Special Interest Group (WIMSIG) Conference
2024-10-01 - 2024-10-02 | University of Sydney
WIMSIG Conference 2024 will celebrate the achievements of women, trans and gender diverse people in the mathematical sciences, with plenary speakers and special sessions spanning pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, and mathematics in industry.

OceaniaR Hackathon 2024
2024-10-21 | Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
This event is a chance to collaborate in-person on R-focused projects for social good, with some of the leading developers in the R community. There will also be time to hold informal talks to share ideas, concepts and new packages for feedback. This event will have a focus on promoting projects and participation from R users in the Oceania region including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.

eResearch Australasia Conference
2024-10-28 - 2024-11-01 | Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Hosted by Australasian eResearch Organisations (AeRO) Inc., the conference is the premiere event for those interested in eResearch and actively transforming research via information technology.
The conference provides an exciting opportunity for delegates to engage, connect and share their ideas and exemplars concerning new information-centric research capabilities, and how ICT technologies can help researchers to collaborate, collect, manage, share, process, analyse, find, understand, and reuse information.

Research Bazaar (ResBaz) Victoria
2024-11-26 - 2024-11-28 | Monash University, Clayton Campus
The Research Bazaar is a dynamic forum designed to empower researchers with cutting-edge digital research tools and skills. Like a bustling marketplace or bazaar, ResBaz provides a vibrant platform where researchers from diverse disciplines converge to enhance their capabilities, exchange knowledge, and foster meaningful connections.
ResBaz Victoria 2024 will be a face-to-face event with a strong emphasis on participation and collaboration. ResBaz offers an immersive experience where individuals can learn, share, and network, driving innovation and collaboration across the research community.
Researchers at ALL levels from ALL disciplines are invited! PhD candidates, research master’s students and early career researchers are especially encouraged to attend. Research technologists and software engineers supporting researchers to do their jobs should also come along!
Sessions at this year’s ResBaz will offer a brief practical introduction to a broad selection of topics and tools related to digital research practice relevant across the disciplines.
For those interested in participating in ResBaz, get in touch at ResBazVIC-l@monash.edu

ADSN 2024 Conference
2024-12-02 - 2024-12-04 | Curtin University, Perth
The 3rd Australian Data Science Network Conference is set to take place in Perth, Western Australia. The Curtin Institute for Data Science is hosting the conference at Curtin University’s Bentley Campus. The ADSN conference aims to connect Australia’s top experts in data science, fostering collaboration, expanding opportunities, and showcasing our collective capabilities. The network is driven by its partner organisations, ensuring a strategic approach to enhancing outcomes and opportunities for all members.

CLICK HERE to submit an abstract (Deadline is 13 September)
CLICK HERE to register (Early Bird Admission Pricing Ends on 30 September)

AMSI BioInfoSummer 2024 Public Lecture: Preparing for the age of genomic medicine
2024-12-03 17:00 - 18:15 (Australia/Brisbane) | The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
Join us for an engaging public lecture by Professor Daniel MacArthur, a leader in the field of genomic medicine, as part of the AMSI BioInfoSummer 2024 program. Suitable for a general audience, this talk is accessible to Year 10 students and above. Light refreshments will be served from 5pm.
Whether you’re a researcher, student, or simply interested in the latest scientific advancements, this hybrid event is not to be missed!
We are currently living through an unprecedented transformation of medicine, driven by rapid technological change across multiple fields. Three fields have been particularly impactful:

genomics, which allows us to understand the human at unprecedented resolution;
data science, which uses tools including AI to make sense of the vast amounts of data emerging from genomics and other measurements, and to make predictions about current and future disease risk; and
therapeutics, which allows us to make precise molecular changes to cure or prevent disease.

The intersection of these three fields, genomic medicine, has already profoundly changed the diagnosis of genetic diseases and the treatment of cancer, and over the next decade will reshape many aspects of healthcare.
Professor Daniel MacArthur will give an accessible summary of what the new field of genomic medicine will mean for the future of health, and what Australia needs to do to ensure that all of our citizens can benefit from these powerful new technologies.

Free and open to the public (Registration required)
Light refreshments from 5pm AEDT for those attending in person

Sydney Workshop on the Mathematics of Data Science
2024-12-04 08:00 - 2024-12-06 17:00 | University of Sydney
The Sydney Workshop on Mathematics of Data Science aims to showcase cutting-edge research in machine learning and data science, with a particular focus on addressing the methodological, statistical, and computational challenges in these fields, including machine learning, deep learning, and the latest advancements in large AI models. Scheduled to take place at the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Sydney from December 4th to 6th, 2024, this workshop will serve as a multidisciplinary platform for mathematicians, statisticians, and computer scientists from around the globe to collaborate and exchange ideas. This event offers a unique opportunity for our HDR students and early career academics to engage with world-renowned experts in machine learning and data science, fostering discussions, networking, and collaborative endeavors among researchers.
List of speakers: https://www.maths.usyd.edu.au/u/USYD-MDSworkshop/

AMSI Summer School
2025-01-07 - 2025-01-31 | University of Sydney
AMSI Summer School is an annual national training and networking event for honours and postgraduate students in the mathematical sciences and related disciplines, early career researchers and industry professionals looking to upskill.
Celebrating its 23rd year, Summer School 2025 will be hosted by The University of Sydney from 7 – 31 January (virtual participation also available). An informal welcome function for participants will be held late afternoon on Monday 6 January.
Connect with peers, researchers and potential future employers while developing your mathematical skills. You can even take a subject for credit!
Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend in person to maximise their experience, however, can opt to participate online. Please note, while AMSI and The University of Sydney will endeavour to provide the best experience possible for virtual participants, not all elements of the program will be available remotely, and some online functions may be limited.

AMSI SummerSchool2025 Public Lecture: My Mathematical Journey - from Play to Sea
2025-01-29 16:30 - 17:30 | University of Sydney
Spend an evening with Dr Jordan Pitt, applied mathematician and Associate Dean of Indigenous Strategy & Services at The University of Sydney, as he delivers his public lecture My Mathematics Journey as part of the 2025 AMSI Summer School. This presentation is tailored for a general audience and suitable for individuals from Year 10 onward.
Whether you’re a teacher, researcher, student or simply curious about the allure of mathematics, this is an evening you won’t want to miss.
ABSTRACT:
Every time I mention that I’m a mathematician to someone new, the most popular response is ‘Oh I was TERRIBLE at maths!’ and a general vibe that I’m an extreme weirdo for not sharing in this feeling. Honestly, as mathematicians we are a bit different, but I am going to try and explain why we’re not that weird in this talk. To do this I will provide some stories of my own mathematical journey and why I ended up loving it.

Free and open to the public (Registration required)
Light refreshments will follow event

DARE 2025 Symposium
2025-02-04 08:30 - 13:00 | The University of Sydney
Join us for the final DARE Symposium – Showcasing Multidisciplinary Data Science for the Future!
As we approach the conclusion of the ARC Training Centre in Data Analytics for Resources and Environments (DARE), this special event highlights five years of innovation, collaboration and impact. Over the past five years, DARE has trained a new generation of data scientists equipped to tackle critical challenges in the environment and resource sectors.
We are delighted to welcome Professor Sally Cripps, founder and inaugural Director of DARE, as our keynote speaker. Prof Cripps is an internationally renowned expert in Bayesian Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence and is currently the Director of Technology at the Human Technology Institute and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Technology Sydney.
The symposium will also spotlight the cutting-edge projects of our PhD candidates, who are addressing some of Australia’s most pressing issues – such as biodiversity, mineral resource management and water security – through innovative data science approaches.
REGISTER

Indigenous Datathon 2025
2025-10-11 - 2025-10-12 | QUT, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
Join the Indigenous Data Network (University of Melbourne), the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS), the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), QUT Centre for Data Science (QUT CDS) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane (ATSICHS-Brisbane) for an Indigenous Datathon.
The event will see participants explore real-world questions using data science, guided by the CARE Principles (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) of Indigenous data governance.
Participants will work in teams to analyse datasets on healthcare while learning how to apply ethical, culturally responsive data practices. Whether you are a student, clinician, researcher, or emerging data scientist, this is a chance to sharpen your skills, connect with others, and contribute to meaningful, values-driven solutions.
We welcome participants with a wide range of backgrounds and skills who are interested in engaging with health data, though we strongly encourage the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Numbers are limited to ensure each participant is well supported by mentors, subject domain experts and datathon volunteers.
Expressions of Interest
The Indigenous Datathon is a free, in-person only event. Participation is based on an Expression of Interest. Click here to submit your EOI.

Saturday & Sunday, 11-12 October
QUT Gardens Point Campus, P-Block, Level 4

International Data Week 2025
2025-10-13 - 2025-10-16 | Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
The Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) is proud to be delivering International Data Week 2025 in Brisbane / Meanjin, Australia.
International Data Week (IDW) is a landmark event organised by the Committee on Data (CODATA) and the World Data System (WDS) of the International Science Council (ISC), and the Research Data Alliance (RDA). It brings together data scientists, researchers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and data stewards from disciplines across the globe to explore how best to exploit the data revolution to improve science and society through data-driven discovery and innovation.
The conference theme, ‘Data for Positive Change’, highlights our commitment to the role of data in instituting change by empowering communities and advancing research.
We have released our IDW 2025 program and posters, and we warmly invite you to explore the agenda and join us for this stimulating and impactful event. The program features an array of keynote talks, workshops, and interactive sessions led by eminent, as well as emerging experts, in the field. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, gain insights from cutting-edge research, and share their own experiences and innovations in using and sharing research data.
Join us at International Data Week 2025 in Brisbane. Register now.

World Statistics Day Webinar: "Data We Can Trust"
2025-10-20 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
The Australian Data Science Network teamed up with the Statistical Society of Australia for a special “World Statistics Day” event – you to an engaging online panel discussion on a topic of growing significance: trust in data.
Our expert panel, representing a broad spectrum of experience across government, academia and industry, explored the real-world challenges they face in building and maintaining trust in data. The session also examined how emerging technologies, evolving data ecosystems and societal expectations are reshaping the landscape of data integrity and transparency.
VIDEO & PODCAST
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Our Presenters:
Dr Lucy Farrell is Director of Data Strategy in the Australian Centre for Disease Control Establishment Strategy Branch at the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. In this role she is responsible for leading strategic reforms to improve national coordination, sharing and use of public health data, including through legislative reform, governance, methodology and technology. Prior to this role Lucy worked at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in analytical and methodology roles. Lucy is particularly interested the political and social dimensions of evidence use: what makes data meaningful, usable and powerful in shaping better outcomes for communities.
Associate Professor Kalinda Griffiths is a Yawuru woman living and working on Larrakia Country. She is an epidemiologist and the Director of Poche SA+NT at Flinders University with research focused on the quality and governance of Indigenous population level data, the measurement of health disparities, and the improvement of health services and outcomes. She has played a leading role in guiding policy on data systems and health and wellbeing reporting. She is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and senior Atlantic Fellow for Social Equity. In addition, she holds a visiting fellowship at the Centre for Big Data Research in Health at UNSW and an honorary fellowship at the Menzies School of Health Research where she co-leads the Ramaciotti Training Centre.
Dr Ben Harrap is Vice President of the Statistical Society of Australia and a biostatistician who loves all things data. They’ve worked in many data contexts, from clinical trials and observational research to administrative data and large data linkage projects. Ben currently works at Yardhura Walani on the Mayi Kuwayu National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing, where they oversee the end-to-end process of survey design, data collection and management, and statistical analysis, with Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance being integral the whole way through.
Simon Jackman is a leading analyst of public opinion, elections and electoral systems and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. After doctoral study at the University of Rochester and Princeton University, Jackman was a professor at the University of Chicago and Stanford University in political science and statistics, returning to Australia in 2016. Jackman is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and the Society for Political Methodology and is the author of Bayesian Analysis for the Social Sciences (2009; Wiley). His recent work centres on the analysis of surveys and corrections for non-response, machine learning for predictive modelling and integrating LLMs into the analysis of social media and news.
Dr Sue Keay is Director of the UNSW AI Institute and an expert in robotics, AI, and automation. She founded Robotics Australia Group and leads initiatives that translate research into real-world impact. A fellow of ATSE, she serves on multiple advisory boards, including Visionary Machines. Sue is a member of the Kingston AI Group and Chief Executive Women. She holds a PhD in Earth Sciences (ANU), an MBA from the University of Queensland, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
Dr Aaron Snoswell is a senior research fellow in AI accountability at the QUT Generative AI Lab. His research uses computational and sociotechnical approaches to evaluate and better understand the knowledge and behaviour of Large Language Models. Aaron received his PhD in computer science in 2022 from University of Queensland. Prior to academia, Aaron worked across industry as a mechatronic engineer in medical device research and development, pilot and astronaut training, and software engineering.
The event will be moderated by Associate Professor Lynne Giles, President of the Statistical Society of Australia and an Associate Professor of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at The University of Adelaide. She has held various roles at the University, and is currently Chair of the School’s Research Committee and Acting Program Director of postgraduate programs in biostatistics. She has served the Statistical Society of Australia in a range of roles at branch and national level since joining SSA back in 1990, and is our new President for 2024-2026. Lynne teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences, the Master of Biostatistics and the Master of Public Health at The University of Adelaide. She has been a Chief Investigator on Category 1 funded research of > $25 million to date, and has authored > 140 peer-reviewed publications, with a H-index of 45.

Australian Data Science Network Conference 2025
2025-11-10 - 2025-11-12 | The University of Sydney
The Sydney Precision Data Science Centre is hosting the 4th Australian Data Science Network (ADSN) conference. The ADSN conference aims to connect Australia’s top experts in data science, fostering collaboration, expanding opportunities, and showcasing our collective capabilities.
Key dates

5 May – Call for abstracts opens
1 August – Abstract submission deadline
1 September – Abstract acceptance notification
15 September – Early bird registrations close

Submit an abstract: Online form to Submit an Abstract

23rd Australasian Data Science & Machine Learning Conference (AusDM'25)
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-28 | QUT, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
The Australasian Data Science and Machine Learning Conference (AusDM), formerly the Australasian Data Mining Conference, is the region’s leading event for Data Science professionals and researchers. Covering topics such as Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Generative AI, AusDM is dedicated to advancing the intelligent analysis of large data sets to uncover meaningful insights. Since 2002, the conference has served as a platform for presenting cutting-edge research, industry case studies, and student projects. AusDM 2025 will continue this tradition, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and showcasing both academic and practical innovations.
Looking ahead, AusDM 2025 will explore the theme: “Entering a New World Driven by Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting the transformative power of these technologies across industries.

Adelaide Data Privacy Workshop
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-27 | The University of Adelaide
The School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at The University of Adelaide and the Adelaide Data Science Centre invite you to join the Adelaide Data Privacy Workshop held 26–27th November 2025 at the University of Adelaide.
This two-day event explores the foundations of data privacy across mathematics, statistics, and computer science. Researchers, students, and practitioners who work in — or wish to learn more about — data privacy are warmly invited to participate.

Program
The organisers are delighted to host Prof. Murray Pollock (Newcastle University, UK) and Dr. James Bailie (Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden), who will share their expertise on Bayesian data fusion, federated learning, and the mathematics of data privacy.
In addition to these keynotes, the program will include contributed talks at the frontier of data privacy theory and exploring fundamental methods that ensure data privacy.
The full program will also enjoy opportunities for discussions and networking.

Registration and abstract submission
Registration and abstract submission can be found here.
Registration is free but mandatory!

Data Science Special Interest Group
2026-06-11 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
The Data Science Special Interest Group monthly catch up is a place to share any ideas, challenges, cool tech, or anything else data science-related.
Each month we’ll come with something new to discuss, but anyone is welcome to lead the discussion. Just let the DSSIG committee know!
The monthly meeting catch ups will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (AEST).
Zoom link
2026 Dates

Thursday 11 June 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 9 July 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 13 August 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 10 September 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 8 October 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEDT
Thursday 12 November 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEDT

Registration not required.

Essential Skills for Statistical Leadership in Consultancy and Research
2026-07-09 - 2026-07-10 | QUT, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia
When: July 9 – 10 2026
Where: Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus and The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
Event website: https://agbarnett.github.io/stats_leadership/
Registration via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/essential-skills-for-statistics-leadership
Event enquiries: statsleadership.symposium@gmail.com
Essential Skills for Statistical Leadership in Consultancy and Research is a two‑day symposium which aims to build leadership capacity among the next generation of statisticians. Designed for early‑ and mid-career statisticians, the event will provide opportunities for attendees to build their professional networks, share career experiences, and develop confidence in key leadership skills as part of ongoing professional development.
What to expect:
International and national keynote speakers

Brisbane in-person/Melbourne online

Associate Professor Tonya Esterhuizen (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Distinguished Professor Noel Cressie (University of Wollongong)
Dr Emi Tanaka (The Australian National University)

Melbourne in-person/Brisbane online

Dr Michelle Wiest (Goats on Fire, LLC and the University of Idaho)
Dr Simon (Jono) Tuke (University of Adelaide)
Dr Joanne Potts (The Analytical Edge)

Virtual

Associate Professor Eric Vance (University of Colorado Boulder)

Contributed presentations covering:

Cross-disciplinary communication
Building a leadership profile
Transitioning from team contributor to team leader
Sustainable models for research consultancy

Interactive skill-building activities
Attendees from all backgrounds, sectors and career stages are welcome.
We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Theo Murphy Initiative Australia, the Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI) at QUT and the Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health Research Hub at the University of Melbourne for their support in organising the symposium.
Full details are available on our event website. Event queries can be sent to the organising committee at statsleadership.symposium@gmail.com

12th International Conference on Teaching Statistics : 12 - 17 July 2026
2026-07-12 - 2026-07-17 | QLD
ICOTS 12 _local FT students programme

WELCOME TO ICOTS 12
The International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS) is held every four years in different parts of the world, and is the most important event in the statistics and data education calendar. For the first time ICOTS is being held in Australia, in Brisbane.
What? Who? When? How?
The theme for ICOTS 12 is “What? Who? When? How?” with Main Topics ranging widely over school, tertiary and workplace contexts within and across disciplines, technologies, training and research at all educational levels.

KEYNOTES
Hear and meet the internationally-renowned ICOTS 12 keynote speakers who are leaders and innovators across this broad canvas, providing insight into today’s world of educational opportunities and challenges.
These will be complemented by a plenary on Debates that Delve at ICOTS 12, with all plenaries built on a rich programme of speakers and topics from around the world.
Our dinner speaker is the legendary Antony Green, who is also giving a conference paper.
Home

Data Science SIG Monthly Catch Up
2026-08-13 14:00 - 15:00 | QLD
The Data Science SIG‘s monthly catch up is a place to share any ideas, challenges, cool tech, or anything else data science-related.
Each month we’ll come with something new to discuss, but anyone is welcome to lead the discussion. Just let the DSSIG committee know!
The monthly meeting catch ups will be held via Zoom on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (AEST).
Zoom link
2026 Dates

Thursday 13 August 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 10 September 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEST
Thursday 8 October 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEDT
Thursday 12 November 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM AEDT

QUT Centre for Data Science: Post-Bayesian Statistics One-Day Workshop
2026-08-18 10:30 - 15:30 | Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia
Abstract
AI is accelerating scientific model development, while the traditional statistical practices of carefully checking model assumptions are becoming sidelined. At the same time, there is growing societal concern regarding the reliability of AI systems, prompting an urgent search for principled approaches to uncertainty quantification and robust decision-making. This confluence of rapid deployment and foundational gaps presents a clear opportunity for the statistical sciences to play a central role. It would be tempting to think that Bayesian inference offers a solution, combining a probabilistic model with prior knowledge to reason about uncertain parameters and to predict data that are yet to be observed. Sadly this is optimistic, as Bayesian inference can fail spectacularly when either the model is misspecified or when meaningful prior information cannot be exploited.
Motivated by these fundamental challenges, there has been a recent surge of interest in post-Bayesian statistical methodology. The “post-Bayesian” terminology refers broadly to methods which replace the traditional Bayesian updating of belief with alternative “updating” rules, with the aim of improving performance when modelling assumptions are violated. This workshop is intended for both postgraduate students and established researchers who are familiar with Bayesian statistical methods and who would like to learn more about the emerging state-of-the-art in post-Bayesian methodology. The workshop is divided into three parts:

10:30–12:00 Part I. A tutorial on post-Bayesian statistical methods
12:00–13:00 Lunch
13:00–14:00 Part II. In detail: Predictively-oriented posteriors
14:00–14:30 Coffee break
14:30–15:30 Part III. Computation for post-Bayes

Professor Chris. J. Oates
Chris. J. Oates is a Professor in Statistics at Newcastle University in the UK. His research spans Statistics, Machine Learning, and Computational Mathematics, and his contributions have been recognised with the award of the Research Prize of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) in 2017, a Lloyd’s Register Foundation Fellowship (2019-2021), Alan Turing Institute Fellowships (2017-2026), the Leverhulme Prize for Mathematics and Statistics in 2023, and the William Guy Medal in Bronze from the RSS in 2024.

SSA Biostatistics & Bioinformatics Section Webinar: Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis
2026-09-09 12:00 - 14:00 | QLD
The Biostatistics & Bioinformatics section of the Statistical Society of Australia invites members to a presentation titled “Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis” delivered by A/Professor Heejung Shim, University of Sydney.
Date: Wednesday 9 September 2026
Time: 12:00 pm (AEST)
Format: Online via Zoom. Details provided upon registration
Abstract: Modelling spatial transcriptomics: from flexible cell-type deconvolution to multi-scale spatial factor analysis
Spatial transcriptomics enables the study of gene expression within its spatial context, but introduces key statistical challenges, including mixed cellular composition and complex spatial structure. In this talk, I present two complementary modelling approaches. First, I introduce FlexiDeconv, a cell-type deconvolution method based on a modified Latent Dirichlet Allocation framework. A key feature of this method is its flexible use of reference information, allowing the model to balance prior information from scRNA-seq with signals from observed spatial data, and to adapt when the reference is incomplete or mismatched, a common challenge in practice. I then present WaveFactor, a wavelet-based Bayesian sparse factor model that captures spatial gene expression patterns across multiple spatial scales, enabling the detection of both fine and broad spatial patterns. In addition, WaveFactor can incorporate gene-set information to guide factor inference, while allowing for uncertainty and potential errors in these annotations. Together, these methods illustrate how flexible modelling of prior information and multi-scale modelling of spatial structure can improve our ability to extract biologically meaningful signals from spatial transcriptomics data.
Presenter Bio: A/Professor Heejung Shim, University of Sydney.

A/Professor Heejung Shim is an applied statistician with a focus on statistical bioinformatics and an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. Her research develops statistical and computational methods for multi-omics data analysis. She is currently extending her research into bioinformatics for drug discovery and therapeutic development. She completed a BSc in Mathematics, with a double major in Computer Science and Engineering, at POSTECH in Korea, and a PhD in Statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in US, followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Chicago. Before joining the University of Sydney, she was a Group Leader at Melbourne Integrative Genomics and the School of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Melbourne, and a Chief Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Mathematical Analysis of Cellular Systems. Prior to relocating to Australia, she was a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics at Purdue University.
For further information, please contact Alberto Nettel Aguirre at anettela@alumni.ucalgary.ca

Upcoming paediatric datathon in September 2026
2026-09-26 08:00 - 16:00 | QLD
Paediatric datathon in September alongside the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive & Critical Care Societies (WFPICCS) Conference and the ANZICS Annual Scientific Meeting. This event is free to attend.
Please find attached the advert for you to circulate (or forward via your social channels) if any data science, IT or analytics majors interested in registering.
The Datathon is titled Small Patients, Big Data: A Global Pediatric Critical Care Datathon and will be held on Saturday 26th September 2026 from 8am to 4pm. Participants will have access to de-identified datasets from Argentina, America, Australia, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
URL to register is here.
More about the datathon can be found here

ADSN Conference 2026
2026-11-25 - 2026-11-27 | ABS House, Canberra, 45 Benjamin Way, Canberra, ACT, 2617, Australia
The Australian Data Science Network Conference 2026 will be held on 26–27 November 2026 at Australian Bureau of Statistics House in Canberra. With the theme From Data to Decisions, the conference will showcase how data science drives informed decision-making, influences policy, and creates real-world impact. Bringing together researchers, industry professionals, government representatives, and students, the event offers opportunities to share innovative research, exchange ideas, and build collaborations across Australia’s data science community. Registration includes the conference social event, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lanyards to help reduce waste.

Australasian Applied Statistics Conference 2026
2026-11-30 - 2026-12-04 | Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, QLD, Esplanade, Mantra Mooloolaba Beach, QLD, Australia
The Australasian Applied Statistics Conference 2026 (AASC2026) will be held from 30 November – 4 December 2026 at Mantra Mooloolaba Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Bringing together students, researchers, industry professionals, and data science practitioners, the conference focuses on real-world applications of statistics and data science. AASC2026 offers an engaging program of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation within the applied statistics and data science community.
Registration: https://aasc2026.netlify.app/registration

AMSI Summer School 2027
2027-01-11 - 2027-02-05 | UNSW, Australia
Join us at UNSW Sydney from 11 January – 5 February for the 25th edition of AMSI Summer School. Aimed at honours and postgrad students, early career researchers and professionals in the mathematical sciences, the event will help develop skills and expand professional networks across four jam-packed weeks of classes and activities.
Subjects for 2027 have been announced! Choose up to two subjects, and with approval from your home university, take one for academic credit. Applications open next week.
Subjects – Summer School 2027
