Volker Grimm and Steve Railsback will offer their 9th summer course in individual-based modeling at Humboldt State University, but this year the course will be a “boot camp” experience focused on the participants’ own modeling projects. The course will be July 27 to August 4, 2020.

We invite grad students, faculty, and others to spend 8 days working on the fundamental early steps of modeling—formulating and implementing models—and how to move efficiently through the modeling cycle of testing, analyzing, publishing, and revising models. Participants will be expected to make rapid progress on their own projects during the class and to leave with a clear plan for completion. The program will be based on the strategies and methods described in the instructors’ 2019 textbook.

The program will include lectures and exercises on essential topics, group discussion and peer review to address basic model design issues, specialized lectures on topics of interest to participants, and independent work facilitated by interaction with the instructors and other participants.

Our goal will be for each participant to complete key products of their own modeling work: a draft model description with the most fundamental elements completed, working draft software, a plan for developing and testing theory for key individual behaviors, and a plan for analyzing the model.

The program will take place on the campus of Humboldt State University in Arcata, on California’s redwood coast. The campus and town provide a relaxed setting, low-cost lodging, and many cultural and natural amenities.

Additional information and applications are available at: http://www.humboldt.edu/ibm/
The application deadline is April 12.