I am currently head of the Working Group POLISES which uses agent-based models to study the impact of policies on land user behavior and consequences on the social-ecological system. This includes agri-environmental schemes for European agriculture and climate related policies such as insurance. In prior projects we investigated intended and unintended effects of global policy instruments on the social-ecological resilience of smallholders. We focused on the impact of policies targeting climate risk in common property regimes of pastoralists in Africa (Morocco and Kenya/Ethiopia).
On a conceptual level, I work in an international team of modellers, psychologists, agroeconomists and natural scientists on adequate representations of human behaviour in agent-based models. Furthermore, I am interested in how to describe models in an appropriate and standardised manner to increase their comprehensibility and comparison and how to foster model reuse and building up on each others work.

Adapting Agents on Evolving Networks: An evolutionary game theory approach

Our overriding approach has been to advance the state-of-the-art in conducting large-scale simulation studies, by developing and disseminating experimental designs that facilitate the exploration of complex simulation models

I am investigating the use of machine learning techniques in non-stationary modeling environments to better reproduce aspects of human learning and decision-making in human-natural system simulations.

Agent-based modeling and simulation of public policies.

My primary research interest is in developing spatial computer models of social phenomena and my focus, in particular, has been on crime simulation.

Agent Based Modelling of energy consumer’s awareness diffusion. Role of smart metering in energy consumption. Social norm as limiting factor against rebound effects. Role of behavioral changes in energy efficiency.

Multi-agent systems, Cognitive Agent, GAMA