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Summer school on
‘Modelling of spatial diffusion and
dispersal processes in social science’
This summer school is aimed at social scientists working on contemporary
and historical cases of population expansion and innovation diffusion.
The program provides an overview of discrete and continuous methods
used to describe different kinds of dispersal processes in time and
space. Beside lectures on the theoretical background and up-to-date
research results, the program includes practical tutorials designed
to develop the skills needed to implement the methods in free software
packages, such as NetLogo and Octave. Topics include:
• agent-based modelling,
•
continuous diffusion models,
•
their implementation in free software such as NetLogo and Octave.
Agent-based and diffusion models provide powerful and rigorous tools
for the study of dispersal phenomena, however, they describe the
dispersal process from different perspectives. While agent-based
models provide a description of the dynamic on the individual (micro)
level, continuous diffusion models focus on the general population
(macro) level behaviour. We will study their applicability to different
dispersal phenomena and focus on their implementation in freeware.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own case studies. In
units 4 and 8 as well as in the question sessions there will be an
opportunity to apply the introduced methods to a concrete example,
and tutors will be on hand to offer advice on accomplishing this.
Who is it for?
The programme is primarily aimed at postgraduates and postdoctoral researches
who wish to enhance their quantitative modelling skills. All participants
will be expected to have some background knowledge of spatial modelling
in a GIS or mathematical context. Applicants who are not sure about
their prior experience should contact Anne Kandler (a.kandler@ucl.ac.uk)
for further information and advice.
Tutors
The following will provide classes and/or participate in other academic
and social activities:
Dr Anne Kandler (http://www.cecd.ucl.ac.uk/people/?go1=67) is a Leverhulme
Trust postdoctoral research fellow based in the Department of Archaeology,
UCL. She is a trained mathematician interested in the modelling and analysis
of cultural diffusion phenomena.
Dr
Luke Premo (http://www.eva.mpg.de/evolution/staff/premo/index.htm)
is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Human Evolution
at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig. He
is an evolutionary anthropologist, trained equally in prehistoric archaeology
and biological anthropology and an expert on agent-based modelling applied
to archaeological and biological questions.
Dr Roman
Unger (http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~uro/) is a faculty member
of the Department of Mathematics, TU Chemnitz. He is an expert on numerical
methods used to solve non-linear systems.
Dr
Mark Lake (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/profiles/lake.htm)
is a member of AHRC CECD and Lecturer in the Institute of Archaeology,
UCL. He is an expert on the archaeological application of agent-based
computer simulation and geographical information systems (GIS).
Dr James Steele (http://www.cecd.ucl.ac.uk/people/?go1=24) is Director
of AHRC CECD and Research Reader in the Institute of Archaeology, UCL.
He is well known for his research on the evolution of speech and tool
use, and the modeling of diffusion processes as diverse as the peopling
of the Americas and the introduction of new agricultural machinery.
Prof Mark Thomas (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/biology/academic-staff/thomas/thomas.htm)
is a member of the AHRC CECD and Professor in the Department for Biology.
He is internationally renowned for his work on the use of genetic information
to examine aspects of the human past, particularly demographic history
and the role of natural selection.
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