The Lighthill Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the GSD project* are hosting an evening of lectures on "Agent Based Modelling and its Real World Applications" on 25 November 2009 from 18:00-20:30.

An agent-based model is a tool used by social scientists to study how large-scale social dynamics result from micro-level individual behaviour. In its basic form, a collection of individuals, or agents, are programmed into a computer, along with a simple behavioural algorithm describing how they act. The computer then allows the agents to interact (possibly in both space and time), and ultimately generates a social dynamic that can then be analyzed in terms of the behavioural rules.

The speakers are:
Liz Varga
Senior Research Fellow, Complex Systems Research Centre, Cranfield School of Management
Liz's research concerns the co-evolution of the Organization and the Supply Chain, with particular reference to the Aerospace Industry. The outcomes of the research project are to create a framework for Evolution Management, a mapping of the organizational and supply chain structures of the industry and a spatial, dynamic model of the firms and supply chain. Liz also has experience in industry having worked as a Management Consultant related to ICT organizational change.

Patrick Beautement
Research Director, The Abaci Partnership
Previously Patrick has led QinetiQ's 'Intelligent Distributed Systems' Team which implemented a series of models and tools with both commercial and academic relevance. Working with Southampton and Edinburgh Universities and with the Institute of Human-Machine Cognition at the University of West Florida, the Santa Fe Institute and British Telecom, Patrick was instrumental in researching both the conceptual and practical aspects involved in making agents, and agent-based modelling, 'industrial weight'. Patrick has recently completed work on an evaluation of the utility of systems dynamics (in comparison with other approaches, such as agent-based modelling) for 'Decision-support in Complex Environments'.

The lectures will be held at the De Morgan House, 57-58 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HS.

How to register:
The entrance is free and the event is open to all. Please register your interest by emailing Arren Ariel at the Lighthill Institute of Mathematical Science.

*Global System Dynamics and Policies (GSD) is a project funded by the Future & Emerging Technologies division of the European Commission. The project began in May 2008, and will continue until April 2010.

Source: www.ucl.ac.uk/lims/events/evening%20lectures/251109lecture.htm