In this episode of The Flux, John Cordier interviews Matt Kohler, Applied Complexity Scientist at MITRE and President of the Computational Social Science Society of the Americas, about the transformative power of agent-based modeling (ABM). Kohler explains how ABM simulates complex human systems and helps decision-makers understand the ripple effects of their choices. From anthropology to economics, Kohler shares examples of how ABM is helping scientists and leaders explore new insights.

As technological advancements in data, hardware, and software drive ABM to new heights, Kohler discusses its expanding role in solving real-world challenges, from traffic modeling to financial crises. With its potential to revolutionize industries by providing a clearer view of how complex systems evolve, ABM is poised to become an indispensable tool for policy-makers, researchers, and organizations.

This episode is for anyone interested in the intersection of complexity science and decision-making, and how ABM is shaping the future of predictive modeling.

Timestamps:

01:00 Matt Kohler's Flux Moment

03:17 Agent-Based Modeling Insights

05:13 Applications and Future of Agent-Based Modeling

08:56 Challenges and Successes in Agent-Based Modeling

23:41 Economic Theories and Agent-Based Modeling

26:58 Getting Started with Agent-Based Modeling

29:10 Future of Computational Social Science