The ninth ZUMA Simulation Workshop will be held from September 18 to 22,
2006, at the Koblenz Campus of Koblenz-Landau University, Germany.
This will be a workshop on the techniques of developing computer simulations
to help with the exploration and understanding of social and economic
issues. All instruction is in English.
Koblenz is easily accessible via cheap flights to Frankfurt, followed by a
one hour rail journey along the scenic Rhine valley.
The workshop will provide a rationale for using simulation in economics and
the social sciences and outline a number of approaches to social simulation
at a level of detail that would enable participants to understand the
literature and, for some selected approaches, to develop their own
simulations. The workshop covers the basics of modelling and simulation in
economics and the social sciences from different points of view
(mathematics, computer science, philosophy of science) and of seven
different approaches to computer simulation in economics and the social
sciences.
By the end of this module, a student should
* understand what simulation is good for in the social sciences and which
steps should be taken to arrive at a useful computer simulation
* know which approaches have been followed by social scientist in the past
decades, what the aims of these approaches were and which advantages and
shortcomings these approaches have.
* be able to make use of a number of different simulation tools
* have gained some experience in designing their own models.
Syllabus
Simulation and Social Science history, taxonomy, motives, simulation from
a philosophy of science point of view (Monday 10:30-12:00, followed by
discussion in small groups)
Simulation as a Method logic of simulation, stages of simulation-based
research (Monday 14-16, followed by reports on discussions)
Systems Dynamics and World Models classical approaches to macro
simulation, differential equations, macro simulation tools, qualitative
simulation (Tuesday 9:30-11, followed by hands-on practice with STELLA and
NetLogo in F 113)
Microanalytical Simulation Models classical approaches to micro
simulation, tax and pension models, recent tools: UMDBS, MicSim (Tuesday
14-15:30)
Queuing Models discrete event simulation, business process modeling, tools
(Tuesday 15:45-17)
Multilevel Modelling modelling global interactions between populations,
groups and individuals, stochastic processes, synergetics (Wednesday 9:30-
11, followed by hands-on practice with MIMOSE and NetLogo in F 113)
Cellular Automata game theory, modelling local interactions in large
populations of identical actors (Thursday 9:30-11, followed by hands-on
practice with NetLogo in F 113)
Distributed Artificial Intelligence Models agent based social simulation
(Thursday 14-15:30, followed by hands-on practice with NetLogo in F 113)
Learning and Evolutionary Models artificial neural networks, genetic
algorithms (Friday 9:30-11, followed by plenary discussion until 16:00)
All slides and a list of references will be available in print.
Organisation
Courses and laboratories will be given by Klaus G. Troitzsch, Nigel Gilbert
and Michael Mφhring.
Wednesday afternoon will be spent with a guided tour of the Abbey of Maria
Laach, followed by a dinner in the Lakeside Restaurant near the abbey.
Participants are expected to have a model in mind for which they would like
to build a simulation. First ideas about these models should be presented in
a short statement on Monday morning when participants introduce themselves;
then groups will be formed in which these models are discussed in more
detail and presented in another plenary discussion; the discussion class on
Friday will give all participants an opportunity to revisit the ideas they
had in the first class session. The groups formed on Monday are encouraged
to meet in their own time during the week to prepare for this.
Laboratories will give hands-on practice in the simulation methods presented
during the lectures.
Participants who want to stay over the weekend may continue their work
during the following week, when advice and discussion will be available.
Participants of this and earlier workshops may apply for an Advanced
Simulation Workshop (for more details see the announcement of the 2006
Advanced Simulation Workshop) in April 2007.
Workshop fees are 150 Euro, include refreshments, lunches and the social
event on Wednesday. Payment in cash after arrival is preferred. Assistance
can be given to find modestly priced local accommodation.
Find more at
http://www.uni-koblenz.de/FB4/Institutes/IWVI/AGTroitzsch/Teaching/current_t
eaching/ZUMA
To register, send an email to <[log in to unmask]>, with the subject
"2006 simulation workshop", giving your name, address and a brief biography.
Please also send a copy of the email to <[log in to unmask]>. Places are
limited and early application is advised. Deadline for application: 16
August 2006.
Nigel Gilbert
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http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/nigel_gilbert.htm
Klaus G. Troitzsch
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http://www.uni-koblenz.de/~kgt
_______________________________________________________________________
Centre for Research on Social Simulation (CRESS)
Department of Sociology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Tel:+44 1483 689173 [log in to unmask]
<http://cress.soc.surrey.ac.uk/>
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