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С¸£Àûµ¼º½ College
First-Year Experience

Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description

Life in a Simulated World

Instructor(s): Lucy Oremland, Mathematics

An agent-based modeling approach to studying natural phenomena in life and social sciences, games, and popular culture. Agent-based models are computational models that explore how complex dynamics arise as individuals, or agents, interact within their virtual environment.  С¸£Àûµ¼º½ will learn how to analyze and design computer models of real-world scenarios--such as emergence of flocking in birds, patterns in rule-based games, and the spread of disease within a society--using the programming environment NetLogo.  С¸£Àûµ¼º½ will also critique the agent-based approach by considering interpretative and philosophical issues within the context of popular models in the social sciences.  No prior coding experience required.

Course Offered: