A brief review is presented of methods for calculating nonlinear force-free fields, with emphasis on a new, fast current-field iteration procedure. The motivation is to reconstruct coronal magnetic fields using high resolution vector magnetic field boundary data from a new generation of spectro-polarimetric instruments. Methods of solar flare prediction are also reviewed, with focus on the need to reproduce observed solar flare statistics. The event statistics method is described, as well as an

more »

... extension of the method to incorporate additional information, based on Bayesian predictive discrimination.