From Micro-Behaviors to Macro-Patterns: Exploring Agent-Based Models with Andrew Crooks

In this episode of The Flux, host John Cordier sits down with Andrew Crooks at the Complex Social Systems Society Conference in Santa Fe. They dive into the world of agent-based modeling (ABM) - what it is, why it matters, and how it helps us simulate and better understand human behavior in complex systems. From simulating traffic jams to modeling social influence on vaccine uptake, Andrew shares how data, geography, and synthetic populations are revolutionizing our ability to forecast and inform decisions. They also explore the growing role of AI tools in democratizing modeling, the evolution of computational capabilities, and even ask: what if we had run a simulation before Brexit?

Whether you're a policy maker, student, or just ABM-curious, this episode is full of insights on how to think more strategically about the future - no flux capacitor required.