The use of simulation models has widely spread in recent years, in various fields of academic research. Models are being developed to represent and try to better understand all kinds of systems: population dynamics, epidemics, transportation systems, macro-scale systems, micro-scale systems, etc. In some scientific areas, models and in silico simulations have become essential to help study in vivo situations.

However, simulation models are necessarily a simplification of reality, and hypotheses have to be made when developing a model. Thus every model can (and needs to?) be questioned: Is it relevant to tackle the research question behind it? How to extract significant knowledge from the model? What kind of dynamics can it exhibit? How does each mechanism of the model impact those dynamics? Is every mechanism really necessary? These are just some of the many questions a model developer has to answer in order to really know and understand his/her model!

During this workshop, attendees will learn a step by step model exploration methodology, including innovative sensitivity analysis, calibration, and validation techniques. They will be invited to apply those techniques on a case study model, using the OpenMOLE software andl go back home with theoretical practical knowedege on model validation.