Previously, collective motion in heavy nuclei has been studied within collective and algebraic models. While they reproduce the energy spectra of these systems accurately, their predictions for electromagnetic transitions and moments are in disagreement with experimental data. An effective field theory approach to collective motion in heavy nuclei solves this long standing problem. The systematic construction of the theory allows for the estimation of theoretical uncertainties. Bayesian methods can be employed to quantify these uncertainties, providing them with a clear statistical interpretation. Experimental data is consistent with the theory within theoretical uncertainties. The systematic construction of the electric quadrupole operator allows for the description of large static quadrupole moments in nuclei near shell closures, and faint interband transitions in rotational nuclei.
