[AISWorld] Summer School: On Computer Simulation Methods

[Roberta Ferrario]

  Summer School: On Computer Simulation Methods

September 25-29, 2017, High Performance Computing Center Stuttgart (HLRS)

Organizers: Michael Resch, Viola Schiaffonati, Giuseppe Primiero,  
Andreas Kaminski



Call for Applications

Topic

The transformation of science through computer simulation is often  
considered to be a methodological one. A lot of literature has been  
dedicated to determining the relationship between computer simulation,  
experiments or theories as the classical sources of knowledge. This  
relation is both methodologically and technically complex. On the one  
hand, it is difficult for philosophers, social scientists, and  
historians to gain detailed insight into the methods used among  
practitioners. On the other hand, for computer scientists and  
practitioners in general, the methodological limitations and design  
constraints that simulation techniques impose on hypothesis  
formulation and testing may not be obvious. The summer school  
addresses these problems by offering lectures and tutorials on  
computer simulation methods for scholars from the humanities, social  
sciences, and computer science.

Schedule

The morning sessions will include lectures by faculty members,  
focusing on the philosophical, methodological, and technical aspects  
of different simulation techniques (including numerical methods,  
software techniques, visualization, agent-based modelling, and  
computational experiments). These will be followed by project  
presentations by participants. The afternoons will be dedicated to  
hands-on tutorials by practitioners. Finally, in the evenings,  
distinguished scholars will offer lectures on the most inspiring and  
exciting issues in this increasingly important research area.



Instructors (confirmed and requested)

Nicola Angius (Sassari), Petra Gehring (TU Darmstadt), Andreas  
Kaminski (Stuttgart), Johannes Lenhard (Bielefeld), Giuseppe Primiero  
(London), Michael Resch (Stuttgart), Viola Schiaffonati (Milan),  
Angelo Vermeulen (Delft)



Who is it for?

·         Researchers (especially but not exclusively postgraduates)  
from the humanities and social sciences who are interested in learning  
more about the methodological dimensions of computer simulation;

·         Computer scientists and practitioners in simulation who are  
interested in deepening their knowledge on the foundations, methods,  
and implications of their techniques.



Prerequisites for participation?

Technical skills (knowledge of programming languages, simulation  
experience) are helpful, but not required. Acquaintance with the  
literature in contemporary philosophy of science is useful, but will  
not be assumed.



How to apply?

The number of participants is limited to 20. To apply, email kaminski at hlrs.de.

All proposals must be submitted by May 30, 2017 and include:

1.      short curriculum vitae;

2.      description of your research (max. one page);

3.      questions or topics you are interested in regarding the summer  
school (just a few lines).

Participants will be notified by June 30, 2017.



What are the costs?

There is no fee, but participants will have to cover their travel and  
hotel expenses. The organizers will happily help participants organize  
their journey and hotel stay.

The DHST/DLMPST Interdivision Commission on the History and Philosophy  
of Computing (www.hapoc.org) will offer two bursaries of $250 each to  
support travel and accommodation costs of young researchers. To apply  
for this funding, please forward your application to

·         Liesbeth de Mol liesbeth.demol at univ-lille3.fr

·         Giuseppe Primiero G.Primiero at mdx.ac.uk

by May 31, 2017. Applicants will be informed of decisions pertaining  
to both funding and proposal submission at the same time (June 30,  
2017).



Website: https://regi.hlrs.de/2017/summer-school/index.jsp