An Introduction to Social Simulation, 16/17 April, 3/10/17 May 2012
Jointly run by:
• School of Geography, University of Leeds
• Centre for Policy Modelling, Manchester Metropolitan University
• Institute for Social Change, University of Manchester
Location: Room G11, Sackville Street Building, Manchester University.
Tutors
Mark Birkin, Bruce Edmonds, Andy Evans, Alison Heppenstall, Nick Malleson, Nick Shryane
Suitability
This is primarily aimed at Social science postgraduates and research staff, but might be of
interest to anyone interested in social simulation models and methods, including those from
complexity science, ecology, geography, economics, organisational science and business.
Course Format
This is a 5‐day course, which will be delivered in an initial two‐day unit, followed by three single
day units at intervals of approximately one to two weeks. There will be a course dinner on April
16th
Maximum Number of Places: 20
Description
Introduces the methods and techniques of social simulation, including microsimulation and
agent‐based simulation. The course will include pedagogic material on the full range of issues for
social simulation. The tutors and demonstrators will discuss three detailed case studies ranging
across the social sciences, and which introduce the principles of social simulation from the
bottom up. Participants will be encouraged to think through the possibilities for applying
simulation in the context of their own research, individually and in small groups.
Prerequisites
This course assumes that you have basic IT skills but no previous knowledge of social simulation
or specific software packages will be assumed. Participants are requested to bring and work
with their own laptop computers wherever possible.
Content Outline
What is social simulation? Using Existing Simulations; How to Plan and Build a Simulation;
Validation and Verification; Checking and Understanding Simulation Behaviour; Overcoming
Difficulties; Critical Assessment of Simulation Results; Future Directions for Social Simulation
and Agent‐based Modelling. Three particular examples will be discussed in detail: Demographic
Microsimulation; Agent‐based Simulation of Housing and Segregation; and a Simulation of
Economic Systems and Market Behaviour
Cost: No charge to students and staff of UK Academic Institutions
Enquiries, registration form: email info‐neiss@googlegroups.com
More information: https://sites.google.com/site/socialsimulationcourse/
Sorry, the MMU admin has blcked our servier...
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...on the grounds that the Linux OS it is operating on is out of date. :-/