Taming the BEAST - News

Next online Transmitting Science BEAST2 course - 2026

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for the next Transmitting Science course on BEAST2, taught by Joëlle Barido-Sottani (ENS-PSL, France) and Robert Haobo Yuan (ETH Zürich, Switzerland). Inspired by the Taming the BEAST format, this online course covers the principles of Bayesian phylogenetic inference, details of many of the models available in BEAST2, and practical advice for running your own analyses. Topics include advanced analyses such as phylogenetic inferences using morphological data and fossil samples, model selection, and structured population models.

The course will take place online, from 15:00 until 18:30 European time, on November 30th & December 2nd, 4th, 7th, 9th and 11th 2026. In addition to the Zoom lectures held at these time slots, participants will be expected to complete tutorials on their own time between sessions (expected time commitment: approx 3h per session).

For more information on the course and to register, visit the Transmitting Science website.

Next online Transmitting Science BEAST2 course

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for the next Transmitting Science course on BEAST2, taught by Joëlle Barido-Sottani and Bethany Allen. Inspired by the Taming the BEAST format, this course covers the principles of Bayesian phylogenetic inference, details of many of the models available in BEAST2, and practical advice for running your own analyses.

The course will take place online, from 15:00 til 18:30 European time, on October 27th, 29th, and 31st & November 3rd, 5th, and 7th, 2025. In addition to the Zoom lectures, participants will be expected to complete practical sessions on their own time.

For more information on the course and to register, visit the Transmitting Science website.

Beijing Wrap-up

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The 9th Taming the BEAST workshop was held this July at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) in Beijing, China. Huge thanks to all of our invited speakers, instructors and participants for making the event a success! Special thanks to Chi Zhang and his team at IVPP for taking care of everything (including our delicious meals) and making everyone feel so welcome in Beijing!

The lecture slides and tutorials used during the workshop are available online from the links displayed on the workshop programme.

Countdown to Beijing

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Taming the BEAST Beijing starts in just one week! We are very excited to welcome all instructors, TAs and participants at the IVPP starting July 13th.

Please find all up-to-date information on travel, venue, and welcome event on the workshop page as well as the final programme and required software on the programme page.

For any last minute questions or requests, please email the organization committee at ttb.beijing@ivpp.ac.cn.

We look forward to seeing you all in Beijing!

Application deadline extended for Taming the BEAST in Beijing!

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We have extended the application deadline for this year’s Taming the BEAST, taking place at the IVPP in Beijing from July 14 to 18, 2025. We will be accepting applications until April 25th, 2025! We have also uploaded a preliminary programme for the workshop.

Applicants will receive feedback by May 6th, 2025 and those with successful applications will then be invited to register for the workshop. For further information visit the Taming the BEAST Beijing homepage or contact the organizing committee at ttb.beijing@ivpp.ac.cn.

Applications Open for Taming the BEAST in Beijing, 2025!

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We are very happy to announce that applications for the next Taming the BEAST workshop, to be held at the IVPP in Bejing, China are now open!

The workshop will take place from July 14 to 18, 2025.

For further information visit the Taming the BEAST Beijing homepage or contact the organizing committee at ttb.beijing@ivpp.ac.cn.

Taming the BEAST in Beijing, China, 2025!

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

It is our great pleasure to announce the first Taming the BEAST in China! It will take place in Beijing, July 14-18, 2025.

As in previous workshops, the goal is to offer a broad overview of everything that can be done with BEAST2, demonstrate best practices, and offer detailed advice to participants on their own dataset. The registration fee is set to 1500 CNY (approx 200€), and includes all meals during the workshop. Applications will open soon on this website!

For any further questions, please contact the organizing committee at ttb.beijing@ivpp.ac.cn.

Squamish BEAST Tamers programme now available!

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The programme for our upcoming Taming the BEAST workshop in Squamish, British Columbia, is now available!

The workshop will take place from August 14 to 18, 2023. For information on the venue, please visit the Squamish BEAST Tamers website.

Online Transmitting Science BEAST2 course

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Registration is now open for the first Transmitting Science course on BEAST2, taught by Joëlle Barido-Sottani and Bethany Allen.

The course will take place online, from 13:00 til 20:00 CEST, on July 10th, 12th, 17th, 20th and 21st, 2023.

For more information on the course and to register, visit the Transmitting Science website.

Taming the BEAST in Squamish, Canada, 2023!

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

We are very excited to announce the next installment of Taming the BEAST, which will again be held in Squamish, BC.

The workshop will take place from August 14 to 18, 2023,

For information on the venue, prices and registration, visit the Squamish BEAST Tamers website.

Details on the programme will be posted here as soon as they are available, so check back often for updates!

Taming the BEAST Online 2021 wrap up

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Teachers and participants of Taming the BEAST 2021 Online.

The first fully-online Taming the BEAST workshop was held last week! An enormous thank you to each and every one of the speakers, tutors and participants for your efforts in overcomming the special challenges of the online format. This was a very unique, enjoyable and productive event!

TTB Online programme

Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The preliminary programme for Taming the BEAST Online is now available on the TTB Online workshop page.

Fee exemptions for TTB Online

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Our mission has always been to provide BEAST 2 educational resources to as many people as possible. We are therefore happy to announce that we will be able to wave the 150 CHF registration fee for Taming the BEAST Online for a strictly limited number of applicants, on an as-needed basis.

Instructions for applying for a fee exemption are available on the Taming the BEAST Online registration page.

Taming the BEAST Online!

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0000

We are very excited to announce the latest Taming the BEAST workshop!

This workshop will take place online from June 07 through to to June 11, 2021 and is being organized by members of Tanja Stadler’s Computational Evolution Group, cEvo.

For further information, including registration fees and information on how to apply, visit the cEvo Taming the BEAST Online homepage.

TTB 2020 Cancelled

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are now officially cancelling the 2020 Taming the BEAST workshop. We again thank everyone for their interest in the workshop, and will announce plans for the next workshop in 2021 as they become available.

TTB 2020 Postponed

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Due to the CoViD-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to postpone the Taming the BEAST 2020 workshop. The organizers would like to thank everyone for the widespread interest in this workshop, and will announce a revised schedule for the workshop as soon as possible.

TTB 2020 Switzerland draft programme available!

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

The preliminary programme for the next Taming the BEAST workshop in Oberägeri, Switzerland is now available on the TTB 2020 workshop page.

Reminder: Registration closes on March 1, so if you haven’t registered already you’ll need to get in quickly! Registration is via this web page. (Registration does not require payment, you will only be invoiced when your application is approved.)

Registration Open for Taming the BEAST in Switzerland, 2020!

Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

We are very happy to announce that registration for the next Taming the BEAST workshop, to be held in Oberägeri, Switzerland, is now open!

The workshop will take place from May 31 through to June 5, 2020, and is once again being organized by members of Tanja Stadler’s Computational Evolution Group, cEvo.

For further information visit the cEvo Taming the BEAST 2020 homepage.

Taming the BEAST in Switzerland 2020!

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

We are excited to announce that the next installment of Taming the BEAST will once more be in Switzerland!

The workshop will take place from May 31 through to June 5, 2020, and is once again being organized by members of Tanja Stadler’s Computational Evolution Group, cEvo.

Registration will open shortly.

For further information visit the cEvo Taming the BEAST homepage.

Check back often for updates!

Squamish wrap up eh!

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The workshop organisers and participants of Taming the BEAST Eh at Quest University in Squamish, British Columbia.

The sixth Taming the BEAST workshop was held last week at Quest University in Squamish, British Columbia. Thanks to all of the invited speakers, instructors and participants for making it a very enjoyable experience! I hope all of the participants enjoyed it as much as we did! A huge thank you also to Francois Cholette and Jeffrey Joy for organising a fantastic workshop in a stunning location!

The lecture slides and tutorials used during the workshop are available online from the links displayed on the workshop programme.

Programme for Taming the BEAST Eh!

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The programme for the next Taming the BEAST workshop in Squamish, BC is now available on the TTB Eh! workshop page.

Taming the BEAST Canada webpage launched!

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The official webpage for the upcoming Taming the BEAST workshop in Squamish this year is now live! You can also access this link directly from the workshops page.

TTB Down Under wrap up

Sat, 23 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The workshop organisers and participants in the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney.

The fifth Taming the BEAST workshop was held last week at the University of Sydney, Australia. An enormous thank you goes to all of the speakers and participants for making this once again such an enjoyable and productive event!

All of the lecture slides and tutorials used during the workshop are available online from the links displayed on the workshop programme.

Taming the BEAST in Canada!

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

We are excited to announce that the first North American Taming the BEAST workshop will be held in Squamish, BC, Canada!

The workshop will take place from 12-16 August this year and is being hosted by BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre.

Check back often for updates!

Final Programme for TTB Down Under

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

The final programme for Taming the BEAST Down Under is now available on the TTB Down Under workshop page.