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Really-From: Nigel.Gilbert at soc.surrey.ac.uk
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 92 15:56:13 BST

Call for papers and participation

Simulating Societies '93
24-26 July 1993

Approaches to simulating social phenomena and social processes

Although the value of simulating complex phenomena in order to come to a better
understanding of their nature is well recognised, it is still rare for
simulation to be used to understand social processes.  This symposium is
intended to present original research, review current ideas, compare alternative
approaches and suggest directions for future work on the simulation of social
processes.  It follows the first symposium held in April 1992 at the University
of Surrey, UK.

It is expected that about a dozen papers will be presented to the symposium and
that revised versions will be published as a book.  We are now seeking proposals
for papers and for participation.  Contributions from a range of disciplines
including sociology, anthropology, archaeology, ethology, artificial
intelligence, and artificial life are very welcome.

Papers on the following and related topics are invited:
*   Discussions of approaches to the simulation of social processes such as
    those based on distributed artificial intelligence, genetic algorithms and
    neural networks, non-linear systems, general purpose stochastic simulation
    systems etc.
*   Accounts of specific simulations of processes and phenomena, at macro or
    micro level.
*   Critical reviews of existing work that has involved the simulation of social
    processes.
*   Reviews of simulation work in archeology, economics, psychology, geography,
    demography, etc. with lessons for the simulation of social processes.
*   Arguments for or against simulation as an approach to understanding complex
    social processes.
*   Simulations of human, animal and 'possible' societies.

'Social process' may be interpreted widely to include, for example, the rise and
fall of nation states, the behaviour of households, the evolution of animal
societies, and social interaction.


Registration, accommodation and subsistence expenses during the meeting will be
met by the sponsors.  Partic ipants will need to find their own travel expenses.
Proposals for papers are initially invited in the form of an abstract of no more
than 300 words.  Abstracts should be sent, along with a brief statement of
research interests, to the address below by 15th March 1993.  Authors of those
selected will be invited to submit full papers by 1st June 1993.  Those
interested in participat ing, but not wishing to present a paper, should send a
letter indicating the contribution they could make to the symposium, also by
15th March 1993.

The organisers of the Symposium are Cristiano Castelfranchi (IP-CNR and
University of Siena, Italy), Jim Doran (University of Essex, UK), Nigel Gilbert
(University of Surrey, UK) and Domenico Parisi (IP- CNR, Roma, Italy).

The symposium is sponsored by the University of Siena (Corso di laurea in
Scienze della Comunicazione), the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Istituto
di Psicologia, Roma) and the University of Surrey.

The meeting will be held at Certosa di Pontignano near Siena, Italy, a
conference centre on the site of a 1400AD monastery.

Proposals should be sent to:
Prof Nigel Gilbert, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey,
Guildford GU2 5XH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)483 509173 Fax: +44 (0)483 306290
Email: gng at soc.surrey.ac.uk