ESSA Summer School 2026: Introduction to Agent-based Modelling (ABM)

About

Summer School Webpage:
https://large-scale-modelling.hutton.ac.uk/essa-summer-school-2026-introduction-agent-based-modelling

The ESSA (European Social Simulation Association) 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.

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

Course leader

Gary Polhill (The James Hutton Institute)

Target group

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

Course aim

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

Fee info

For the detailed fee structure: https://large-scale-modelling.hutton.ac.uk/essa-summer-school-2026-introduction-agent-based-modelling