Betting theory clergyman’s work to be celebrated

AN 18th-century clergyman whose theory on betting is used every day across the world is being celebrated with a series of events in the Capital.

The Reverend Thomas Bayes is best known for devising a theory that helps people forecast outcomes more reliably.

It is built into software that forecasts events, from movements in the financial market to changes in the weather.

Bayes, who studied logic and theology at Edinburgh University from 1719-1722, is to be commemorated in a workshop and a public talk to mark 250 years since his death in 1761.

The cleric’s methods are used for forecasting results based on previous knowledge.

The talk takes place at 5.30pm on Monday in the Appleton Tower, Crichton Street.

The talk is part of a three-day workshop on Bayesian statistics, running until next Wednesday.