Welcome


Welcome to GEOG0125: Advanced Topics in Social Geographic Data Science, one of the core term two modules for this MSc programme (Social and Geographic Data Science). This module has been designed as an advanced topics module to learn data science concepts and methods, and to apply them in the domains of social science and geography. The module will introduce concepts such as Bayesian inference and Machine Learning methodologies.

Description

This particular facet in the advanced topics course aims to cover an Introduction to Bayesian statistics in RStudio using Stan, which is an interface to RStudio that allows state-of-the-art statistical modelling and Bayesian computation. We will introduce you to the absolute basics of writing your own probabilistic codes for carrying out a broad range of multivariable models within the Bayesian framework: Generalised Linear Modelling (GLMs); Hierarchical Models; and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). Thereafter, you will be shown how to create Spatial & Spatiotemporal Bayesian models using Conditional Autoregression (CARs) for risk prediction and uncertainty using exceedance probabilities, which have significant applications to many fields such as spatial epidemiology, social sciences, or disaster risk reduction and many more.

All lecture notes, recommended reading and seminar learning materials as well as supplementary video content developed by Dr. Anwar Musah will be hosted on this webpage.

You can download the lecture notes and data sets for the practical lesson from the table below.

Week Downloads Topics
1 [Lecture Notes] Introduction to Bayesian Statistics
2 [Lecture Notes] [Datasets] Bayesian Generalised Linear Models (GLMs)
3 [Lecture Notes] [Datasets] Bayesian Generalised Additive Models (GAMs)
7 [Lecture Notes] [Datasets] Bayesian Hierarchical Regression Models
8 [Lecture Notes] [Datasets] Bayesian Spatial Risk Models
9 [Lecture Notes] [Datasets] Updating & Spatiotemproal Modelling
10 [Lecture Notes] Study Design, Research & Revision

Solutions: [Week 1] | [Week 2] | [Week 7] |[Week 8]

Important note: The solutions will be made available each week after the seminars are completed.

Timetable and key locations

The Lectures are held every week in-person on Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am at the North West Wing Building (Room G07) [MAP]. The computer seminar practicals will be at the same location from 11:00am to 01:00pm on Friday.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please bring your own laptops with you to the computer practicals on Friday.

Contact details

Dr. Anwar Musah
UCL Department of Geography
Room 115, North West Wing Building, WC1E 6BT
Email: a.musah@ucl.ac.uk