THE CAMBRIDGE STATISTICS DISCUSSION GROUP
Thursday 2nd April 2009 7:15 for 7:45
The Large Seminar Room,
Institute of Public Health,
University Forvie Site,
Robinson Way,
Cambridge
Statistics and the Law
Phil Dawid
Statistical Laboratory
Abstract:
It might appear that the concerns of Statistics and those of Law have
little common ground, but in fact both disciplines address the same
fundamental task: the drawing out of sound inferences from evidence.
I will describe the logic of probabilistic reasoning and its application
to cases at law, and show how its neglect or misapplication has led to
serious errors and miscarriages of justice in some celebrated legal cases.
Speaker:
Philip Dawid came to Cambridge as Professor of Statistics in 2007,
having spent most of his career in the Department of Statistical Science
at University College London. His research interests have centred on
the foundations of probability and statistics, with special emphasis on
Bayesian inference, graphical modelling and statistical causality. He
has a long-standing interest in the rational analysis of legal evidence,
and led an international research project applying Bayesian networks to
complex cases of forensic identification from DNA profiles. He recently
directed a large multidisciplinary research programme "Evidence,
Inference and Enquiry" at University College London. He does not like
the name "Statistics", and would like to see the subject rebranded as
"Evidence Science".
Directions: (From Central Cambridge) Turn right off Hills Road into the
Addenbrooke's site then turn left at the hospital roundabout onto Robinson
Way. Follow Robinson Way until you see an access road on the left signed
'Forvie Site' (but note that the sign is on your right). Turn into the
access road and follow signs - first to the Institute and then to the
Large Seminar Room. There is ample car parking. Arrivals after 7:45 can gain
admittance by contacting the secretary on 07761769436.
Provisional Next Meetings:
7th May - Jenni Barclay (UEA).
20th October - Andrew McGuinness (EMB Consulting) on 'Uses of Monte Carlo methods in General Insurance'.
Supper: Some members eat regularly in the University Centre before
each talk meeting in the downstairs bar at 5-30pm. Feel free to join them.
Subscriptions: of 1 pound are now due for attending the 2008-2009 session.
Secretary: Peter Watson, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit,
15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF;telephone 01223 355294 Extension 801;
E-mail [log in to unmask]
Take a look at our website:
http://www.mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk/people/peter.watson/csdg.html
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