Jointly organised by the Behave Lab, University of Milan and University of Brescia, this school aims to train students on agent-based modelling by theoretical and practical lectures, daily hands-on sessions on NetLogo, project presentations and personal counselling by experts.

The school is hybrid with up to 40 participants in Brescia and unlimited others remotely connected. The training will take from 10-13AM to 2-5PM (CET Time). The first week is addressed to beginners or experts needing a refresh and will introduce the principles and methods of agent-based modelling, NetLogo and modelling exercises. The second will provide advanced training on model calibration and validation, with intense training on statistical analysis, including an intermediate Sunday tutorial on R for beginners offered to students not familiar with R. In both weeks, classic and contemporary agent-based models will be coded from scratch in the class, step-by-step. Assistance and customized counselling on personal research projects and models during the whole week with experts will be provided so that students will have the opportunity to create and improve their own models. No previous coding skills required during the first week. Each Friday, there will be a slot for personal project presentations.

The 2023 faculty includes:

Federico Bianchi (University of Milan, Italy)
Ernesto Carrella (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
Carlo De Bernardi (University of Milan, Italy) (assistant)
Simone Gabbriellini (University of Trento, Italy)
Nicolas Payette (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
Francesco Renzini (University of Milan, Italy) (assistant)
Flaminio Squazzoni (University of Milan, Italy, School director)

Registration fees

Fees to attend the onsite intro week training (11-15 Sept), the onsite advanced week training (18-22 Sept) or the onsite full course (11-22 Sept) as well as to attend each course online will be announced soon. Note that onsite fees include a fully lodged accomodation (bedroom, coffee breaks, luncheons, a welcome party and a social dinner + local transportation and other facilities).

Application

To apply to the school, please by 30 April 2023 send to info@behavelab.org: your CV and a letter of presentation describing (a) the type of training you want to attend [(1) only the introductory course, (2) only the advanced course, (3) the full two weeks course, either onsite or online], (b) any prior relevant expertise (e.g., ABM, R or any programming language) and (c) the research project/objectives you are interested to develop during the school. Approval will be notified by 15 May 2023, after which registrations will open.