Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) Hackathon

Agenda Scientific culture
January 21, 2026 - January 23, 2026
Welcome to the Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) Hackathon in Grenoble — a three-day, hands-on event dedicated to exploring modern Bayesian inference tools for complex scientific simulators, organized by the SBI4C chair from the MIAI institute.
Dates: 21-23 January 2026

Location: IMAG building, Université Grenoble Alpes campus, Grenoble, France

Duration: 3 days (1.5 days tutorial + 1.5 days hackathon)

Target audience: researchers, students, and practitioners interested in parameter estimation, model calibration, or uncertainty quantification in physical, biological, or engineering simulations.

Registration: Free, but limited spots. Please register by 31 December 2025. The organizers will get back to you to confirm your registration.
Registration Link 
 
Programme

Day 1–2 (Tutorial, 1.5 days)

Led by Jan Teusen. Topics include:

  • Generative modeling and the SBI framework
  • Neural posterior estimation (NPE), likelihood and ratio estimation
  • Hands-on notebooks using the sbi Python package
  • Applying SBI to toy and benchmark simulators


Day 2–3 (Hackathon, 1.5 days)

Participants form small teams around real or toy simulators (your own, or provided examples).
Possible directions:

  • Adapting SBI to your research simulator
  • Benchmarking different inference strategies
  • Building reproducible pipelines for calibration or uncertainty quantification
  • Sharing and discussing results at the closing session


We will take inspiration from successful open hackathons such as the IGE-Jaxathon 2025, emphasizing collaboration, openness, and applied research.

Practical Information

Prerequisites: basic Python and machine learning familiarity
Environment: conda or mamba setup, preconfigured via provided environment.yml
Code & materials: shared through this repository and GitHub Classroom
Outputs: participants are encouraged to share notebooks, results, and ideas for follow-up collaborations.
 

Published on  November 20, 2025
Updated on  November 21, 2025