Course

Essentials of Modelling - 2 ECTS

Models are simplified representations of a part of reality. Many modelling projects deal with global issues such as climate change, sustainability, or the management of socio-ecological or socio-technical systems. When modelling one must consider an array of aspects that do not directly relate to the mathematical and computational side of modelling such as establishing a common definition, a model ontology, settling on a model purpose, conceptualizing the model to match the model purpose, and considering what data are available or required.

Organised by Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS)
Date

Mon 6 February 2023 until Fri 17 February 2023

Lecturers

Elements that will be addressed in this course:

  • How to involve stakeholders?
  • How to establish a shared model ontology?
  • How to balance scientific model credibility and technical detail with relevance and societal views and needs?

This course is primarily aimed at participants who are in the start-up of a modelling project. We purposefully aim to involve people from different scientific backgrounds. The emphasis is not on the mathematical, computational, and statistical aspects of modelling per se, but on the elements of the modelling process before that. You will learn about the scoping of a model, and to think critically about the choices in modelling. The set-up is to have participants cooperate with peers from other disciplines to reflect on the foundational design, requirements and purpose of their own modelling projects.

Programme

The following lecturing programme is proposed:

  • The modelling process, and what can go wrong with it
  • Model scoping, ontology, stakeholder involvement
  • Data and metrics, and balancing model complexity
  • The good, the bad and the ugly: modelling in real life
  • Presentations and discussions of team assignments

Set-up

This course will take place at the campus of WUR. The first week (6-10 February) involves lectures, assignments and group-work. Prior to lectures, participants have to prepare questions/points of discussion for after the lectures based on provided reading material. The second week involves working on your own work/project where you can receive feedback from course lecturers on Friday 17 February. Beforehand the course, we will ask participants to submit a brief note with an answer to the question: “What scares you in your modelling project?”. The goal is to have students exchange their (good/bad) experiences and devise possible solutions during the course.

This course is oganised by PE&RC together with WASS. More information and registration