As part of the European Social Simulation Association‘s life-long learning strategy, the ESSA Summer School 2026 will take place from Monday 17 to Friday 21 August 2026 at the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen. Led by Gary Polhill, this one-week intensive course offers an introduction to agent-based modelling (ABM), connecting theories of complex systems with practical model design, programming, and experimentation in NetLogo.
Participants will learn how agent-based models can represent heterogeneous actors, dynamic environments, and emergent socio-ecological patterns. The course combines conceptual theory, coding exercises, and group projects to help participants understand the purpose, design, and implementation of ABMs for socio-environmental systems.
Key themes include:
- Complex systems thinking and agent-based theory
- Translating conceptual systems into computational models
- Programming ABMs in NetLogo and developing clear model structures
- Setting up experiments, analysing results, and communicating model findings
The summer school is designed for PhD students, researchers, and practitioners interested in modelling socio-ecological systems, environmental policy, behavioural dynamics, and other complex adaptive systems.
More at: large-scale-modelling.hutton.ac.uk
Complexity Digest 