Many real-world processes can naturally be modeled by systems of interacting agents. Approaches reach from informal descriptions of interaction dynamics and their computational implementations to more formal, mathematical models. On the basis of recent journal publications, this seminar will focus on state-of-the art approaches and main challenges for the mathematical modeling of complex social systems. Example applications shall include: Epidemics spreading, opinion dynamics, processes in economic and socio-ecological systems.
The course will cover a selection of the following topics:
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Dynamics on and of social networks
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Agent-based models and their formulation by means of Markov processes (possibly with a connection to chemical reaction systems)
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Population scaling and approximation by differential equations (ODEs, SDEs, PDEs…)
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Numerical simulation techniques