Single and binary star population models

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The 21st century is where big data meets astronomy. Grand surveys, like the European Space Agency's Gaia are alreadyproviding us with unprecedented volumes of data on every type of star in our Galaxy and beyond. Others, like SDSS andGalah, give chemical information on these stars. Others still, such as Pan-STARRS, detect transient phenomena such assupernovae and stellar merging. Given all this information, how do we best link it to the modelling of the sources of most ofthe light in the Universe: the stars themselves? There are many problems in stellar evolution, in particular relating to binarystars and their key role in type Ia supernovae, stellar merging and as gravitational wave sources, which will benefit hugelyfrom big survey data. This project aims to develop the tools to do this by employing state-of-the-art statistical techniques tocompare single and binary star population models to observations of populations of stars, in a quantifiable, reliable and fastway. It will use publicly available data from Gaia and other bi g surveys to pin down long-debated uncertainties in theastrophysical models that go into our models of stars, both single and binary, as constructed at the University of Surrey.The aim is to provide the tools developed for the astronomical community, thus helping to enhance both Surrey'sinternational reputation and that of the student. This is a huge astrostatistical problem which needs addressing urgently!