Deciphering the Nature of the Higgs Boson: Precision Measurements in the Age of Open Data

The Higgs boson discovery in 2012 marked a pivotal achievement in high-energy physics, confirming the mechanism of spontaneous symmetry breaking within the Standard Model. However, the quest to understand the
Higgs boson's properties and its potential role in new physics has only begun. This talk will explore the journey from discovery to precision measurements.

Central to this endeavor is the role of advanced statistical modeling, particularly the use of likelihood-based techniques, which have become the cornerstone of high-energy physics analysis. Recent efforts to publish likelihoods in open, machine-readable formats alongside more traditional unfolded measurements with covariance matrices are revolutionizing the accessibility and reproducibility of experimental results. These developments allow theorists and experimentalists to reinterpret data with new models, fostering unprecedented collaboration across disciplines.

This talk will present a look behind the scenes of the inner workings of the collaborations, complete with a round-trip of statistical techniques from basic to recent. Looking ahead, the precision measurements of the Higgs boson offer a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, as we continue the search for physics beyond the Standard Model. Open data and transparency will be key to unlocking the full potential of these efforts.