JuliaBUGS: A Graph-Based Probabilistic Programming Language using BUGS syntax (LAFI 2024)

Sun 14 - Sat 20 January 2024 London, United Kingdom

Who

Xianda Sun, Philipp Gabler, Andrew Thomas, Hong Ge

Track

LAFI 2024

Time Zone

The program is currently displayed in (GMT) London.

Use conference time zone: (GMT) LondonSelect other time zone

The GMT offsets shown reflect the offsets at the moment of the conference.

Time Band

By setting a time band, the program will dim events that are outside this time window. This is useful for (virtual) conferences with a continuous program (with repeated sessions).
The time band will also limit the events that are included in the personal iCalendar subscription service.

Display full programSpecify a time band

Save

When

Sun 14 Jan 2024 14:20 - 14:30 at Kelvin Lecture - Third Session Chair(s): Steven Holtzen, Matthijs Vákár

Abstract

In this work, we introduce JuliaBUGS.jl, a Julia package that supports the well-established BUGS language and augments it with the performant Julia programming language. This package aims for maintainable and extensible implementation of BUGS, while also offering advanced methods like Hamiltonian Monte Carlo. We also emphasize the importance of graph-based probabilistic programming languages in statistical modeling. By integrating BUGS into Julia’s ecosystem, we aim to make graph-based probabilistic modeling more accessible and serve as a catalyst for future research in this critical area.

Xianda Sun

University of Cambridge

Philipp Gabler

Independent researcher

Andrew Thomas

University of Cambridge

Hong Ge

University of Cambridge

Time Zone

The program is currently displayed in (GMT) London.

Use conference time zone: (GMT) LondonSelect other time zone

The GMT offsets shown reflect the offsets at the moment of the conference.

Time Band

Display full programSpecify a time band

Save

Session Program

Sun 14 Jan
Displayed time zone: London change

14:00 - 15:30	Third SessionLAFI at Kelvin Lecture Chair(s): Steven Holtzen Northeastern University, Matthijs Vákár Utrecht University

14:00 10m Talk		Effect Handlers for Choice-Based Learning LAFI Gordon Plotkin Google, Ningning Xie University of Toronto File Attached
14:10 10m Talk		Guaranteed Bounds for Discrete Probabilistic Programs with Loops via Generating Functions LAFI Fabian Zaiser University of Oxford, Andrzej Murawski University of Oxford, C.-H. Luke Ong NTU File Attached
14:20 10m Talk		JuliaBUGS: A Graph-Based Probabilistic Programming Language using BUGS syntax LAFI Xianda Sun University of Cambridge, Philipp Gabler Independent researcher, Andrew Thomas University of Cambridge, Hong Ge University of Cambridge
14:30 10m Talk		Mixture Languages LAFI Oliver Richardson Cornell University, Jialu Bao Cornell University File Attached
14:40 10m Talk		Structured Tensor Algebra for Efficient Discrete Probabilistic Inference LAFI Amir Shaikhha University of Edinburgh
14:50 10m Talk		Towards a Categorical Model of the Lilac Separation Logic LAFI John Li Northeastern University, Jon Aytac Sandia National Laboratories, Philip Johnson-Freyd Sandia National Laboratories, Amal Ahmed Northeastern University, USA, Steven Holtzen Northeastern University File Attached
15:00 10m Talk		Toward Probabilistic Coarse-to-Fine Program Synthesis LAFI Maddy Bowers Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alexander K. Lew Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vikash K. Mansinghka Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Joshua B. Tenenbaum Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Armando Solar-Lezama Massachusetts Institute of Technology
15:10 10m Talk		Static Posterior Inference of Bayesian Probabilistic Programming via Polynomial SolvingOnline LAFI Peixin Wang University of Oxford, Hongfei Fu Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tengshun Yang SKLCS, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences & University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guanyan Li University of Oxford, C.-H. Luke Ong NTU
15:20 10m Talk		Abstract Interpretation for Automatic DifferentiationOnline LAFI Jacob Laurel University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Siyuan Brant Qian University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Zhejiang University, Gagandeep Singh University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; VMware Research, Sasa Misailovic University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign