2026 ESSA Summer School for Agent-Based Modelling – Large Scale Model

About

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 in-depth exploration of large-scale 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 large-scale socio-environmental systems.

Key themes include:

Complex systems thinking and agent-based theory
Translating conceptual systems into computational models
Programming ABMs in NetLogo and managing large-scale 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 social-ecological systems, environmental policy, behavioural dynamics, and other complex adaptive systems

Course leader

Gary Polhill

Target group

This summer school is designed for PhD candidates, early-career researchers, and experienced researchers from the social, environmental, and computational sciences who wish to expand their skills in large-scale agent-based modelling. Participants are expected to have a basic understanding of agent-based simulation and an interest in applying these methods to complex socio-ecological systems. The course will be particularly valuable to those working on interdisciplinary research involving human–environment interactions, collective behaviour, or policy modelling

Course aim

The summer school aims to provide participants with theoretical foundations, methodological guidance, and practical experience in designing and implementing large-scale agent-based models. Through lectures, tutorials, and hands-on sessions, the course introduces advanced techniques for scaling up models, integrating heterogeneous data, and improving model performance and reproducibility. By the end of the week, participants will be able to apply these tools to their own research questions and critically assess the opportunities and challenges of large-scale social simulation

Fee info

Fees including tuition and lunches and two evening meals during the summer schools (travel/accommodations not included)