Modelling and Simulation

Studiewijzer 2017/2018

Globale inhoud

The course provides a detailed introduction to simulation and modelling techniques that are appropriate in the natural sciences. The course is primarily intended for students from the Future Planet Studies bachelor’s program, but will be equally useful for anybody wishing to apply simulation and modelling techniques in related fields. Students in this course are required to have had experience in basic programming in Matlab, and acquaintance with classical mathematical models in geo-ecosystems or related fields from earth sciences and/or from ecology and evolution.  

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

Syllabus

Practicummateriaal

Software

• Matlab

Overig

Leerdoelen

The students will be acquainted with simulation and modelling techniques appropriate for modeling spatially explicit dynamic processes based on Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations and Cellular Automata; by the end of the course students will be able to apply each of these for solving simple scientific problems.
The students will develop practical expertise, including experience in the process of abstracting real systems into models; by the end of the course students will be able to "translate" a true scientific question from the natural world into an appropriate model.
The students will gain foundations for solving scientific problems through modelling and simulation; by the end of the course students will be able to logically choose an appropriate modelling approach for a particular scientific question, and explain which level of detail they believe is most appropriate to include.
The hands-on modelling exercises will support expansion of the students’ ability to carry out critical and creative scientific research; by the end of the course students will be able to critically evaluate the approach and conclusions of a true scientific study they are presented with.

Onderwijsvormen

• Hoorcollege
• Laptopcollege
• Zelfstudie

Simulation and modelling in natural sciences require both skills (i.e., programming, developing algorithms, and solving equations) and techniques (i.e., the ability to recognise what is important and needs to be represented in the model, and what can and should be left out). Because this is a course designed for beginners focus will be given to both aspects— the technical side of constructing models and the ability to identify appropriate degrees of abstraction.
Because there is no absolute set of rules that can universally be prescribed for insuring successful modelling results; students will be confronted with realistic and concrete hands-on modelling exercises throughout the course in their practicals in order to gain proficiency in the process of abstracting real systems into models, as well as other practical expertise relevant to modelling and simulation. This will also support the development of each student's personal understanding and intuition, providing them with foundations for critical and creative problem solving in the natural sciences through simulation and modelling.

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• In geval van werkgroepbijeenkomsten met opdrachten is de student verplicht tenminste 90% van de werkgroepbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden. Ingeval de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond kan het vak niet succesvol worden afgerond dan wel kan de examencommissie een aanvullende opdracht laten verstrekken.
• In geval van een practicum is de student verplicht ten minste 90% van de practicumbijeenkomsten bij te wonen. In geval de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond dient het practicum opnieuw te worden gevolgd dan wel kan de examencommissie een aanvullende opdracht laten verstrekken.
  

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

• Attendance in the lectures is required, unless special approval for absence has been given.
• Practical lessons: each student needs to be present and well prepared for at least 90% of the practical classes. In case the student missed more than 10% of the practical classes, he/she has to re-take the practical, unless the exam committee decides on providing a practical-replacing assignment.
• In special cases, a student can receive an exemption for (part of) the obligatory components of a course. The exam committee judges the requests for an exemption

Toetsing

Student assessment will be based on the score of the final exam and on the assignments handed in by the students throughout the course.  The final grade will be based on a weighted average between the assignments submitted throughout the course (1/3) and the final exam (2/3): the score of the exam cannot be less than 4.5, and the assignments will only be included in the final grade if: a) the exam mark falls between 4.5 and 5.5, and b), the final grade after inclusion of the assignments is higher. In such cases the final grade will never be higher than 6.0.

Studenten die het vak al eerder hebben gevolgd

For students that are enrolled in the course for the 2nd/3rd/etc. time it is still mandatory to complete all components.

Inzage toetsing

Om een inzagemoment aan te vragen, kun je contact opnemen met de coördinator.

Up to 20 working days after the announcement of the result students have the right of inspection of their work (all forms of assessment). Students can make an appointment with the course coordinator, Dr. Artzy-Randrup at Yael.Artzy@UvA.nl

Opdrachten

Work assignment #1

Work assignment #2

Work assignment #3

Work assignment #4

Work assignment #5

Work assignment #6

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: www.uva.nl/plagiaat

Weekplanning

Rooster

Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.

Aanvullende informatie

Early requirements

1) Experience with basic programming in Matlab 

2) Software and personal laptop:  Students will need to bring their personal laptops to the lectures, practical’s and the exam. Matlab needs to be installed before the first meeting (for assistance see below). 
 

FNWI offers licenses for MATLAB, including instructions for both Windows and Mac, as well as software support:

• Downloading Software. Software can be downloaded from www.datanose.nl/byod
• Support for software installation and other Bring Your Own Device questions. Contact: laptops-fnwi@uva.nl. Software support: Tuesday and Thursday from 12.00 – 13.00 hrs at B1.16 (right from the library desk)
• Borrow a laptop. FNWI students can rent a laptop at the library desk for €5,- per day. The laptops include MS Office and Adobe Acrobat and can be rented between 9.00 and 20.00 hrs. You are allowed to install your own software on the device. The laptop comes with a laptop bag, charger, mouse, lock and HMDI-cable. Documents and software are deleted after return.

Vakevaluatie afgelopen jaar

Vanaf 2013-2014 hebben we ervoor gekozen om d.m.v. onderstaande tabel de studenten meer inzicht te geven in de kwaliteitszorg. Daarom nemen we een korte weergave van de studentenevaluatie op en de daaruit voortvloeiende acties ter verbetering van het vak.

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• dr. Yael Artzy-Randrup

Course coordinator:
       Dr. Yael Artty-Randrup (Yael.Artzy@UvA.nl)

Teaching assistants: 
      Emma Polman, Bart Hoekstra and Caper Borgman