On Saturday, April 8, 2023, the Institute for the Study of Economic Growth (ISEG) was proud to sponsor and host an Agent-Based Modeling Workshop and Hackathon. The full day event was on Wichita State University‘s campus at Woolsey Hall from 9 AM to 5 PM. It aimed to bring together ISEG faculty and Wichita State students to learn, collaborate and innovate.
The event began with a workshop introducing participants to agent-based modeling (ABM) facilitated by ISEG Research Fellow Abigail Devereaux. Dr. Devereaux then led an intense training on ABM and the use of NetLogo software. This covered various topics, including the fundamentals of ABM, model calibration and validation, data integrations, and visualization. Attendees had the opportunity to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and receive feedback from Dr. Devereaux.
After the workshop, the event continued with a hackathon. Students were challenged to develop innovative ABM solutions to address real-world problems. The hackathon provided participants with a unique opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge gained from the workshop and collaborate with other participants to create original solutions. At the end of the hackathon, Dr. Devereaux evaluated all the entries. The solutions presented covered a wide range of topics. She evaluated the solutions based on their innovation, practicality, and potential impact.
The event concluded with a presentation session. The top three participants had the opportunity to showcase their solutions and receive feedback from attendees. The group voted, and prizes were awarded based on the students’ rankings.
Overall, the 2023 Agent-Based Modeling Workshop and Hackathon was a successful event. Participants noted it provided them with valuable learning and networking opportunities. Finally, the event showcased the potential of ABM as a powerful tool for solving complex real-world problems.
