ISBA serves as the worldwide hub for Bayesian statisticians, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and students who share an interest in Bayesian inference. From its origins as a modest learned society, ISBA has grown into a vibrant international community with thousands of members spanning every continent and dozens of application domains.
Origins and Founding
The society traces its roots to the growing recognition in the late 1980s that Bayesian methods were undergoing a revolution, fueled by advances in computational power and algorithms such as Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). Leading figures in the field recognized the need for a dedicated professional organization that could unite the disparate threads of Bayesian research across statistics, computer science, engineering, and the sciences.
ISBA is formally established, with its founding charter emphasizing the promotion of Bayesian analysis and its applications worldwide.
Launch of the society's flagship journal, Bayesian Analysis, providing a dedicated venue for high-quality Bayesian research.
The ISBA World Meeting begins its regular biennial schedule, rotating across continents to serve the global membership.
ISBA celebrates its 20th anniversary with record membership and expanding thematic sections.
The society marks 30 years of advancing Bayesian science, with membership exceeding 1,500 active members worldwide.
Mission and Activities
ISBA's mission centers on three pillars: promoting the development of Bayesian statistical theory and methods, encouraging the application of Bayesian techniques across the sciences, and facilitating the education and training of the next generation of Bayesian statisticians. The society achieves these goals through its conferences, journal, prizes, and the activities of its thematic sections.
Bayesian Analysis, the official journal of ISBA, is an open-access, peer-reviewed publication that has become one of the most respected venues in statistics. Its discussion-paper format encourages scholarly dialogue and has featured landmark contributions in areas from nonparametrics to computational methodology.
Awards and Recognition
ISBA bestows several prestigious awards to recognize outstanding contributions. The Lindley Prize honors the best discussion paper in Bayesian Analysis, while the Mitchell Prize recognizes an outstanding paper presented at an ISBA World Meeting. The DeGroot Prize is awarded for a published book that makes a notable contribution to Bayesian statistics. The Savage Award, perhaps the most coveted early-career honor, recognizes outstanding doctoral dissertations in Bayesian econometrics and statistics.
Sections and Community
To serve the breadth of Bayesian activity, ISBA supports numerous thematic sections, including sections on Bayesian Computation, Bayesian Nonparametrics, Biostatistics and Pharmaceutical Statistics, Environmental Sciences, Industrial Statistics, Bayesian Education, and the Social Sciences. These sections organize workshops, webinars, and sessions at major conferences, ensuring that domain-specific Bayesian developments receive focused attention.
"The Bayesian approach is not merely a statistical method; it is a coherent framework for learning from data, and ISBA exists to ensure that this framework continues to evolve and reach every corner of scientific inquiry."— José M. Bernardo, founding ISBA member
Global Reach
ISBA's membership spans over 70 countries, reflecting the universal applicability of Bayesian methods. Regional chapters, such as the Chilean and Indian Bayesian statistics groups, complement the central organization's activities. The society also supports junior researchers through the Junior ISBA (j-ISBA) network and organizes the Bayesian Young Statisticians Meeting (BAYSM) series to cultivate emerging talent.