Reminder: Phyloseminar (Wed 3/30): Making comparative methods as easy as ABC

Posted 29 March 2011 by Reed A. Cartwright

Brian O'Meara (University of Tennessee, NIMBioS) speaks Wednesday, March 16th at 2pm EST on "Making comparative methods as easy as ABC." The seminar will take place online and anyone can participate. Instructions on how to join can be found at a http://phyloseminar.org/. Abstract: For decades, biologists have addressed evolutionary and ecological questions using measurements of species traits, phylogenies, and an assortment of comparative methods. Unfortunately, while there is a large assortment of these methods, they are still fairly limited and development of new methods is slow. It took seven years between the introduction of using a simple Brownian motion model for looking at trait evolution (Felsenstein, 1985) and the use of this same model for looking at rates of trait evolution (Garland, 1992), and an additional 14 years to more powerful tests using a small modification of the basic model (O'Meara et al., 2006). Still other promising methods are described and even tested but remain unavailable to empiricists because they are not put into software. As a result, the questions empiricists can ask about the world are limited by the research productivity of the few dozen scientists who develop and implement new methods in phylogenetics. We describe a new approach based on Approximate Bayesian Computation and implemented in R that will allow researchers to easily develop their own models for trait evolution without requiring them to have specialized mathematical or computational knowledge. Japan 03:00 (03:00 AM) on Thursday, March 17 New Zealand 07:00 (07:00 AM) on Thursday, March 17 West Coast USA 11:00 (11:00 AM) on Wednesday, March 16 East Coast USA 14:00 (02:00 PM) on Wednesday, March 16 England 18:00 (06:00 PM) on Wednesday, March 16 France 19:00 (07:00 PM) on Wednesday, March 16 For more information on how to attend this and other seminars, visit http://phyloseminar.org/.

10 Comments

Robert Byers · 29 March 2011

A point a creationist could pick up on here is the statement that a few dozen scientists do all the research in a particular area here. I find this everywhere in issues dealing with evolution and company. its quite a small world , relative, that addresses and makes and defends conclusions on evolutionism. Not many people get paid to research ideas or claims coming from evolution.
This is why its not hard to take evolution on with a small number of creationists.
Its not backed by millions of scientists but in fact few people deal in the few areas that deal with origin subjects.
This is a good point for us in talking to the public.

Stanton · 29 March 2011

Of course, the moron Robert Byers fails to realizes that Creationist do not do any research, period.

And the fact that there is no research being done for Creationism is one of the main reasons why there are no industrial uses for Creationism beyond swindling and brainwashing people.

Mike Elzinga · 30 March 2011

Stanton said: ... no industrial uses for Creationism beyond swindling and brainwashing people.

Industrial strength swindling and brainwashing.

Matt G · 30 March 2011

Mike Elzinga said:
Stanton said: ... no industrial uses for Creationism beyond swindling and brainwashing people.
Industrial strength swindling and brainwashing.

With no added evidence OR logic. Never had it, never will!

Dale Husband · 30 March 2011

Robert Byers said: A point a creationist could pick up on here is the statement that a few dozen scientists do all the research in a particular area here. I find this everywhere in issues dealing with evolution and company. its quite a small world , relative, that addresses and makes and defends conclusions on evolutionism. Not many people get paid to research ideas or claims coming from evolution. This is why its not hard to take evolution on with a small number of creationists. Its not backed by millions of scientists but in fact few people deal in the few areas that deal with origin subjects. This is a good point for us in talking to the public.

Yeah, and you'd be lying, wouldn't you?

mrg · 30 March 2011

Y'know ... I think of clever rejoinders to RB, but then I realize that it wouldn't be clever to argue with a brick.

People, the guy has a room temperature IQ. He's not just a nut like FL or ID or suchlike, he's impaired.

He cannot possibly discuss ideas on an equal level with the people around him, but he pretends he can by simply making assertions and ignoring the responses.

DS · 30 March 2011

mrg said: Y'know ... I think of clever rejoinders to RB, but then I realize that it wouldn't be clever to argue with a brick. People, the guy has a room temperature IQ. He's not just a nut like FL or ID or suchlike, he's impaired. He cannot possibly discuss ideas on an equal level with the people around him, but he pretends he can by simply making assertions and ignoring the responses.

I agree. Just look at his latest "effort". He complains that there are only thousands of people working and actively doing research in the field of evolution. Somehow this is not nearly enough. But of course the NO ONE is actively doing any real research in creationism and that is somehow perfectly OK with him. And of course he still can't be bothered to use proper spelling or grammar. I all fairness, I think it is physically difficult for him to even type. Of course, that's just one more reason why he should not post here at all. If PT refuses to ban these trolls, we can still do so effectively if we so choose. In all fairness

mrg · 30 March 2011

DS said: If PT refuses to ban these trolls, we can still do so effectively if we so choose.

It's not even a question of banning him as a nuisance, though he is. The guy is aware at some level that he can't keep up; to grant himself the comfort that he can, he simply says whatever thing that comes into his head and ignores the replies. Or maybe more accurately, the replies don't register. It's like arguing with a six year old. Actually, for all we know, he may BE a six year old. There's certainly nothing he's said that would suggest he's any older.

Matt G · 30 March 2011

It's like with stray animals - once you start feeding them, they'll never leave.

mrg · 30 March 2011

Matt G said: It's like with stray animals - once you start feeding them, they'll never leave.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/mischievous-raccoon-wreaks-havoc-on-international,1180/