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Modelers are from Manchester; Case study teams are from Edinburgh

Modelers are from Manchester; Case study teams are from Edinburgh . Shah Jamal Alam University of Edinburgh. The ‘Art’ of Social Simulation…. “Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer. Art is everything else we do.” (Knuth, 1995) [ Foreword in A=B ].

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Modelers are from Manchester; Case study teams are from Edinburgh

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  1. Modelers are from Manchester; Case study teams are from Edinburgh Shah Jamal Alam University of Edinburgh

  2. The ‘Art’ of Social Simulation… “Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer. Art is everything else we do.” (Knuth, 1995) [Foreword in A=B]

  3. Some thoughts … 1 • Understanding modelers/case-study teams’ interaction • Many different patterns of interaction exist • Distance and time factors • Mode and frequency of interaction • Alignment of research agenda

  4. Some thoughts … 2 • Some suggestions for new modelers/PhD students • Be an extrovert modeler • A way to get qualitative data is by asking questions through a quick & dirty model • Be prepared to discard these prototype models • Do not try to build frameworks • Unless you have a job security

  5. Some thoughts … 3 • It’s the code, stupid • There’s a plenty of effort from conceptualization (diagrams etc.) to actual coding

  6. Geller’s first conjecture in Social Simulation*: • ‘The number of (informed) arbitrary assumptions (read magic numbers) introduced in a social simulation model due to limited evidence is proportional to the level of descriptiveness in the model.’ • Geller’s second conjecture in Social Simulation*: • ‘There is no way to avoid arbitrary assumptions in a reasonably descriptive social simulation model’ • * It’s a joke! Not to be attributed to any person (including Geller)

  7. Summarizing … • A working group to study different patterns of modelers/case-study teams interaction • Develop protocols • Training of students (e.g. ESSA school) • See Hare (2011; Env. Pol. Gov.); also, Polhill et al. (2010; JASSS) • Many reviewers are non-modelers or have stopped modeling • Seldom reviewers ask for a source code! • Document most assumptions in the model – especially, arbitrary assumptions • Is there enough description available to replicate a model? Code availability is essential!

  8. “Science advances whenever an Art becomes a Science. And the state of the Art advances too, because people always leap into new territory once they have understood more about the old.” (Knuth 1995) [Foreword in A=B]

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