Topics in Agent-Based Modeling

Spring Quarter

2013

Seminar SCHEDULE – Fall, 2013

Seminar: Topics in Agent-Based Modeling (PSC 290 – Schank)

Seminar time – T: 2:10-5:00 PM

1. Tuesday – April 2 – Introduction: concepts and methods  –

    Readings:
          1. Agent-based modeling: Methods and techniques for
             for simulating human systems
          2. Agent-Based Simulation of Animal Behaviour
          3. Chapter 2: Agent-Based Modeling
          4. The economy needs agent-based modeling
          5. The rise of the individual-based model in ecology

2. Tuesday – April 9 – Concepts and Methods –

   Readings: 
         1. Agent-based modeling: a new approach for theory building in 
            social psychology
         2. From factors to actors: computational sociology and agent-based modeling
         3. Beyond reductionism: refocusing on the individual with individual-based
            modeling
         4. Agent-based modeling as a bridge between disciplines
         5. A standard protocol for describing individual-based
            and agent-based models

3. Tuesday – April 16 –  TBA –

   Readings:  Human Mate Choice is a Complex System 

4. Tuesday – April 23 – TBA –

   Readings: 

5. Tuesday –April 30 – TBA –

   Readings: 

6. Tuesday – May 7 – TBA –

   Readings: 

7. Tuesday – May 14 – TBA –

   Readings: 

8. Tuesday May 21 – TBA –

   Readings: 

9. Tuesday May 28 – TBA –

   Readings: 

10. Tuesday June 4 – TBA –

   Readings: 

Note: All readings can be found above and on smart site.

Seminar Objectives

The aim of the seminar is to discuss and understand multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts, methods, approaches, and applications of agent-based modeling.  We will read and discuss papers and projects. This is not a seminar about how to make agent-based models, though this topic may come up from time to time.

The first two weeks will be devoted to papers on concepts and methods across disciplines.  The remainder of the seminar will emerge from the seminar participants.  As it does, readings and topics will be posted.

Time

Class: T 2:10-5:00 PM Young Hall, 145

Lecture Instructor

Jeff Schank

Office: 268D Young Hall

Email: Jeff Schank

Phone: 752-6332

Office Hours:  Tuesday: 10:00 to 11:00 AM and by appointment

Course Requirements

Participate in and lead (or co-lead) some discussions. Present for discussion (later in the quarter) a project you are working on or that you would like to work on that uses agent-based modeling as a tool.  I conceive of each weeks meeting as consisting of three, 50-minute segments, which can focus on different topics or projects or can be combined to cover the same topic.