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After 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 the eighth ZUMA Simulation Workshop will be held from October 10 to 14, 2005, at the Koblenz Campus of Koblenz-Landau University. Late registration is still possible (mailto:[log in to unmask]). This will be a workshop on the techniques of developing simulations to help with the exploration and understanding of social and economic issues. It 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. The aim of this module is a broad introduction into all approaches to simulation in the social sciences. It covers the basics of modelling and simulation in the social sciences from different points of view (mathematics, computer science, philosophy of science) and of seven different approaches to computer simulation in 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 and he or she should 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. Moreover, students should be able to make use of a number of different simulation tools and 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 in F 113) Microanalytical Simulation Models classical approaches to micro simulation, tax and pension models, recent tools (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 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) Teaching material 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. An overview will be given of all social simulation approaches (see Syllabus). Lectures are usually scheduled for 9:30 to 11:00 and 14:00 to 15:30, discussion classes (Monday and Friday) and/or labs (Tuesday and Thursday) will be from 11:15 to 12:45 and 16:15 to 17:45. No lecture and lab on Friday afternoon, instead plenary discussion until about 16:00. Participants are expected to have a model in mind of which they would like to build a simulation model. First ideas of 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 practise in the simulation methods presented during the lectures. Participants who want to stay over the weekend may continue their work for the following week, advice and discussion are available). Participants of this and earlier workshops may apply for an Advanced Simulation Workshop (for more details see the announcement of the 2005 Advanced Simulation Workshop) in April 2006. Find more at http://www.uni- koblenz.de/FB4/Institutes/IWVI/AGTroitzsch/Teaching/current_teaching/ZUMA Klaus G. Troitzsch [log in to unmask] www.uni-koblenz.de/~kgt