BEHAVE Summer School 2023
on “Agent-Based Modelling”, The 10th Edition,
University of Brescia, Faculty of Engineering,
via Branze 38, Brescia, Italy, 11-22 September 2023
Jointly organised by the Behave Lab, University of Milan, and University of Brescia, and supported by ESSA-The European Social Simulation Association
Reach your goals with us
Your place to learn ABM
Jointly organised by the Behave Lab, University of Milan, and University of Brescia, this school aims to train students on agent-based modelling by theoretical and practical lectures, daily hands-on sessions on NetLogo, project presentations, and personal counselling by experts.
"The Behave School is an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best agent-based modeling experts and researchers. The 2-week program is a great introduction to ABM for beginners yet offers sufficient depth for more advanced modelers. And the location in Brescia close to Lake Iseo is not to be missed."

The school is hybrid with up to 40 participants in Brescia and unlimited others remotely connected. The training will take from 10-13AM to 2-5PM (CET Time).
The first week is addressed to beginners or experts needing a refresh and will introduce the principles and methods of agent-based modelling, the features of NetLogo and practicting with modelling exercises.
The second week will provide advanced training on model calibration and validation, with intense training on statistical techniques for parameter estimation and analysis.
In both weeks, examples of classic and contemporary agent-based models will be coded from scratch in the class, step-by-step, with the faculty helping each student.
- Assistance and customized counselling on personal research projects and models during the whole week with experts will be provided so that students will have the opportunity to create and improve their own models.
- Project presentation. There will be slots for personal project presentations.
- Coding Skills. No previous coding skills required during the first week.
The 2023 faculty includes
The list of Invited lecturers, Instructors and Assistants includes:
Alison Heppenstall
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (Invited lecturer)
Federico Bianchi
University of Milan, Italy
Ernesto Carrella
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Carlo De Bernardi
University of Milan, Italy (assistant)
Simone Gabbriellini
University of Trento, Italy
Nicolas Payette
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Francesco Renzini
University of Milan, Italy (assistant)
Flaminio Squazzoni
University of Milan, Italy, School Director
Schedule
Date | Start | End | Title | Speaker |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023-09-11 | 09:00:00 | 10:00:00 | Registration | |
2023-09-11 | 09:30:00 | 10:00:00 | Welcome | |
2023-09-11 | 10:00:00 | 11:00:00 | The theory and methodology of agent-based modelling I | Flaminio Squazzoni |
2023-09-11 | 11:15:00 | 12:30:00 | The theory and methodology of agent-based modelling II | Flaminio Squazzoni |
2023-09-11 | 14:00:00 | 15:30:00 | From theory to coding | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-11 | 15:45:00 | 16:45:00 | Getting acquainted with NetLogo | Nicolas Payette |
2023-09-11 | 17:00:00 | 18:00:00 | Counselling | |
2023-09-12 | 10:00:00 | 11:00:00 | Schelling's model of segregation in NetLogo | Nicolas Payette |
2023-09-12 | 11:15:00 | 12:30:00 | Schelling's model of segregation in NetLogo | Nicolas Payette |
2023-09-12 | 14:00:00 | 15:30:00 | A few more NetLogo building blocks | Nicolas Payette |
2023-09-12 | 15:45:00 | 16:45:00 | A few more NetLogo building blocks | Nicolas Payette |
2023-09-12 | 17:00:00 | 18:00:00 | Counselling | |
2023-09-13 | 10:00:00 | 11:00:00 | Axelrod’s model on the dissemination of culture | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-13 | 11:15:00 | 12:30:00 | Axelrod’s model on the dissemination of culture | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-13 | 14:00:00 | 15:30:00 | Axelrod’s model on the dissemination of culture | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-13 | 15:45:00 | 16:45:00 | Axelrod’s model on the dissemination of culture | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-13 | 17:00:00 | 18:00:00 | Counselling | |
2023-09-14 | 10:00:00 | 11:00:00 | Flache and Macy’s model on small world and cultural polarization | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-14 | 11:15:00 | 12:30:00 | Flache and Macy’s model on small world and cultural polarization | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-14 | 14:00:00 | 15:30:00 | Flache and Macy’s model on small world and cultural polarization | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-14 | 15:45:00 | 16:45:00 | Flache and Macy’s model on small world and cultural polarization | Simone Gabbriellini |
2023-09-14 | 17:00:00 | 18:00:00 | Counselling | |
2023-09-15 | 10:00:00 | 11:00:00 | Student presentations | |
2023-09-15 | 11:15:00 | 12:30:00 | Student presentations | |
2023-09-15 | 14:00:00 | 15:30:00 | Standards of ABM research I | Flaminio Squazzoni |
2023-09-15 | 15:45:00 | 16:45:00 | Standards of ABM research II | Flaminio Squazzoni |
2023-09-15 | 17:00:00 | 18:00:00 | Counselling |