Welcome to the exciting world of Statistical Rethinking, a collaborative effort led by the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg and the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. This guide is designed to help you make the most of this interactive online reading experience of Richard McElreath’s book, focusing on a Bayesian perspective using R and Stan. Let’s jump right in!

How to Get Started

1. Obtain the Book: Request access to our shared Google Drive directory to get a free copy of the book via this link.
2. Install R and RStudio: If you haven’t already, follow these instructions to install R and RStudio.
3. Sign Up for GitHub: Create a free GitHub account and clone this repository in RStudio. If you’re new to GitHub, check out this tutorial. The process in RStudio is documented here, or you can watch a video.
4. Join the Google Group: Sign up for our Google Group to receive valuable updates by visiting this link.
5. Subscribe to Google Calendar: Receive meeting reminders by subscribing to our Google Calendar with the email address: 6nir9s7kt0t81u4o4ncvqnd85c@group.calendar.google.com.

Our Weekly Meetings

Join us every Wednesday from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM (NYC) or 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM (Salzburg). For further details and access to recordings, visit this link and this link.

Becoming a Presenter

Do you want to present a chapter? Here’s how:

1. Choose a date or topic that suits you.
2. Add your GitHub username to the schedule table.
3. Read the chapter in the book and edit the presentation file in RStudio using the .Rpres format. More information on the formatting can be found here.
4. Edit the exercises file in RStudio using the .Rmd format. More details on this format can be found here.
5. Commit your presentation and exercises to GitHub so others can access them. Need help? Check the documentation here or watch a video.
6. Finally, present your work during the weekly meeting!

Understanding Git and RStudio: The Analogy

Think of managing Git and RStudio as maintaining a community garden. When you decide to work on a new section of the garden (a new project), you first gather your tools (installing R and RStudio). Each person in the community (colleagues in the GitHub repository) can plant their own flowers (code) in a designated area (branches). When someone adds a new plant, the master garden plan (main branch) is updated to reflect the collective work—ensuring that everyone’s contributions are harmoniously integrated without crowding each other out. Just remember to water, prune, and nurture your contributions by committing them to maintain an organized and thriving garden.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you run into issues, here are some troubleshooting ideas:

• Check your internet connection if you face problems accessing Google Drive or GitHub.
• Ensure you are using the latest version of R and RStudio.
• Review the provided documentation if you encounter doubts about Git commands or R presentations.
• Reach out to the Google Group at statisticalrethinking@googlegroups.com for additional assistance.

For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.

Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations. Happy learning!