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I was a senior lecturer in the School of Computer Science, Mathematics and Digitial Technology until January 2018. I have since moved to the University of Sheffield.
Agent-based modelling is an exciting and challenging area of research that draws upon many disciplines, including computer science, cognitive science, psychology, and sociology. The modelling can be applied in a wide range of areas, from modelling NPCs in computer games, to human-in-the-loop training, to policy development and evaluation.
The particular challenge is in identifying the "right" drivers of human behaviour to include in computational models - where "right" means both able to produce realistic behaviour, and able to be usefully implemented and used. (A model of individual behaviour that requires fine-tuning of thousands of parameters might eventually produce a realistic model of human behaviour, but is unlikely to be of practical use.)
In addition, I have a strong interest in models that can be used in exploratory simulation, and for such models, explanatory powers - why particular actions were performed - are critical. This itself constrains the construction of the models, as some AI techniques do not have appropriate explanatory powers.
These explanatory powers are also important in agents that act in partnership with humans, in order for humans to trust the behaviour of agents. This is part of the bigger picture of computational social intelligence, which looks at how computational entities (such as agents) can build and maintain relationships with other entities (both computational and human). In this vision, technology would be "part of your team," rather than just a tool that you use.
Within this broad picture, there are many opportunities for research students to work with me, including (but not limited to):
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you are interested.
F. Grimaldo, E. Norling (2015). Multi-Agent-Based Simulation XV International Workshop, MABS 2014, Paris, France, May 5-6, 2014, Revised Selected Papers. F. Grimaldo, E. Norling. Springer.
EJ. Norling, D. Hales, B. Edmonds, J. Rouchier (2003). Multi-Agent-Based Simulation III. D. Hales, B. Edmonds, E. Norling, J. Rouchier. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
D. Hales, B. Edmonds, E. Norling, J. Rouchier (2003). Preface.
B. Edmonds, E. Norling, D. Hales (2009). Towards the evolution of social structure. Comput. Math. Organ. Theory. 15, pp.78-94.
E. Norling, B. Edmonds, R. Meyer (2017). Informal Approaches to Developing Simulation Models. In: Understanding Complex Systems. Springer International Publishing, pp.61-79.
EJ. Norling, B. Edmonds, R. Meyer (2013). Simulating Social Complexity. B. Edmonds, R. Meyer. In: Simulating Social Complexity. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp.39-55.
SJ. Alam, R. Meyer, E. Norling (2008). A Model for HIV Spread in a South African Village. N. David, JS. Sichman. In: Multi-Agent-Based Simulation IX, International Workshop, MABS 2008, Estoril, Portugal, May 12-13, 2008, Revised Selected Papers. Springer, pp.33-45.
EJ. Norling, FE. Ritter (2006). Including human variability in a cognitive architecture to improve team simulation. In: Cognition and multi-agent interaction: From cognitive modeling to social simulation. Cambridge University Press, pp.417-427.
MD. Beer, L. Alboul, E. Norling, P. Wallis (2013). Using agents in virtual environments to assist controllers to manage multiple assets. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). Valencia, Spain, pp.55-69.
E. Norling (2009). On Evaluating Agents for Serious Games. In: AGS. pp.155-169.
E. Norling, CR. Powell, B. Edmonds (2009). Cross-disciplinary views on modelling complex systems. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). Estoril, Portugal, pp.60-70.
E. Norling, CR. Powell, B. Edmonds (2008). Cross-Disciplinary Views on Modelling Complex Systems. In: MABS. pp.183-194.
E. Norling (2008). What should the agent know?: the challenge of capturing human knowledge. In: AAMAS (3). pp.1225-1228.
SJ. Alam, R. Meyer, E. Norling (2007). Agent-based model of impact of socioeconomic stressors: A dynamic network perspective. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Autonomous Agents. pp.1086-1088.
SJ. Alam, R. Meyer, E. Norling (2007). Agent-based model of impact of socioeconomic stressors: a dynamic network perspective. In: AAMAS. pp.167-167.
E. Norling (2006). Contrasting a System Dynamics Model and an Agent-Based Model of Food Web Evolution. In: MABS. pp.57-68.
B. Edmonds, E. Norling (2006). Integrating Learning and Inference in Multi-agent Systems Using Cognitive Context. In: MABS. pp.142-155.
P. Wallis, E. Norling (2005). The trouble with chatbots: Social skills in a social world. In: AISB'05 Convention:Proceedings of the Joint Symposium on Virtual Social Agents: Social Presence Cues for Virtual Humanoids Empathic Interaction with Synthetic Characters Mind Minding Agents. pp.29-36.
S. Moss, E. Norling (2006). Multi-agent-based simulation: Why bother?. In: MULTI-AGENT-BASED SIMULATION VI. Utrecht, NETHERLANDS, 25/7/2005. pp.1-13.
E. Norling, FE. Ritter (2004). Towards Supporting Psychologically Plausible Variability in Agent-Based Human Modelling. In: AAMAS. pp.758-765.
E. Norling (2004). Folk Psychology for Human Modelling: Extending the BDI Paradigm. In: AAMAS. pp.202-209.
E. Norling (2003). Capturing the quake player: using a BDI agent to model human behaviour. In: AAMAS. pp.1080-1081.
E. Norling, FE. Ritter (2001). Embodying the JACK Agent Architecture. In: Australian Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence. pp.368-377.
E. Norling, L. Sonenberg, R. Rönnquist (2000). Enhancing Multi-Agent Based Simulation with Human-Like Decision Making Strategies. In: Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Boston, USA, pp.214-228.
E. Norling (2014). Cognition Beyond the Brain: Computation, Interactivity and Human Artifice. JASSS-THE JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL SOCIETIES AND SOCIAL SIMULATION. 17,
Plenary speaker, Social Simulation 2015 - presentation can be viewed here.
Plenary speaker, MUSA project final workshop, March 2015.
I am an active member of the Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (AAMAS) conference series, and have served on the program committee and senior program committee for many years. I was involved in the local organisation in 2003 (Melbourne), when I also organised a "summer" school (in Melbourne winter) on agent-based systems. I am publications chair for AAMAS 2017.
I have been involved in the Multiagent-Based Simulation (MABS) workshop series since my first publication here in 2000 (when a figure from my paper featured as the publication cover artwork). I served as co-chair in 2003, 2007, and 2014 and have been on the program committee since 2003. The papers from this workshop are published as part of Springer's Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence series.
I am also involved in the program committees of various regional conferences and workshops in the areas of multi-agent systems, artificial intelligence, and social simulation.
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