Dr Nokuthaba Sibanda
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Natural resources modelling: Focus on fisheries modelling
This course gives an introductory overview of mathematical models used to describe fish population dynamics and will discuss how these models are applied in modelling fish stocks. We will start with an exploration of some of the key fish population dynamics models and show how these are translated into real-world problems. We then consider estimation methods used to fit the models and illustrate these models through application to example datasets.
Pre-requisites
This course assumes a third-year undergraduate level understanding of the principles of statistical modelling and inference (including likelihood functions). Some knowledge of mixed effects models would be an advantage but is not required.
All statistical computing will be carried out in R, and thus the course requires basic knowledge of R and working software. A package list of the programs that will be needed to complete the labs will be sent out before the course begins.
Relevance
The course will be relevant to anyone with an interest in mathematical modelling of natural processes, particularly in ecology.
Dr Nokuthaba Sibanda
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Nokuthaba Sibanda is Senior Lecturer in Statistics at the School of Mathematics and Statistics, and Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research in the Faculty of Engineering at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. She is Secretary for the New Zealand Statistical Association and served as the NZ Ambassador for Women in Data Science in 2022. She has served as guest editor for the Environmental and Ecological Statistics journal.
Her primary research interests are in developing statistical methods for modelling natural systems, with a focus on ecological and disease progression models. Her interest is not just in methods development and computation, but also in translational research that impacts policy. Recently, she was involved in a research project that contributed to a policy change in cancer screening and has contributed to government ministry working groups and projects on fisheries stock assessments.
Nokuthaba obtained her PhD from Imperial College London and was previously a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.