The 2nd Joint CCSS-UvA Workshop on Computational Social Science and Intelligent Systems, Amsterdam 2025
Report on the 2nd Joint CCSS-UvA Workshop
The 2nd Joint CCSS-UvA Workshop on Computational Social Science and Intelligent Systems, Amsterdam 2025, was held on 5 and 6 March 2025 at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was jointly organized by the Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University and several institutions at the University of Amsterdam - namely Informatics Institute and Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
On Day 1 of the workshop, we started with two of the main coordinators of this event, Prof. Ivan Romic (CCSS, Kobe University) and Prof. Fernando Santos (Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam) gave an overview of the workshop. Next, Prof. Masahiko Shibamoto, the Deputy Director of the CCSS Kobe University, welcomed the participants and thanked the University of Amsterdam for hosting the two-day workshop and briefly introduced CCSS and Kobe University. He concluded his speech by emphasizing how last year's workshop was highly fruitful, while expressing his delight that it could be held again this year.
During the first day of the workshop, researchers presented applications of computational social science methods across diverse fields, including economics, business, finance, environmental science, and mental health. Presentations covered a range of theoretical, experimental, and hybrid approaches to studying human and artificial agent behavior. Topics included cooperation and reputation dynamics in hybrid populations, as well as the ability of large language models (LLMs) to mirror human cooperation in social dilemmas.
The program also featured talks on the use of foundation models for Earth system forecasting and computational approaches to understanding social norms and mental health at the symptom level. Further sessions explored applications of AI and machine learning in finance, including fraud detection, relationship lending in bank-borrower networks, and dynamic industry segmentation using anonymized data. Finally, researchers presented computational methods for understanding social adaptation to resource scarcity, such as intermittent water supply.
The program of Day 2 of the workshop started with the campus tour of Roeterseiland campus by Prof. Steven Pickering (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences). Following the campus tour, participants had the opportunity to observe actual classes attended by second-year undergraduates in the Computational Social Science program. This semester, the sophomores were studying "Applying Responsible AI to Reduce Inequality" as their core theme. Two classes were observed: the first focused on "Working with Trees" (utilizing tree diagrams), while the second involved project-based learning (PBL) structured around "Structuring Your Change-Making-Expertise Project". Japanese participants showed keen interest, taking diligent notes and actively engaging with instructors through questions.
After observing the classes, participants moved to a designated venue to conduct a workshop aimed at exchanging perspectives on the educational programs of both universities. The workshop began with a detailed presentation by Prof. Eelke Heemskerk, Director of the Bachelor's Program in Computational Social Science at the University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, outlining the program's structure, objectives, and pedagogical approach.
Subsequently, Prof. Steven Pickering, Prof. Giovanni Sileno (Informatics Institute, UvA), and Prof. Vitor Vasconcelors (Informatics Institute, UvA) from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and three of participants from Kobe University, Prof. Masahiko Shibamoto, Prof. Hirofumi Uchida (Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University), and Prof. Tomomi Miyazaki (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University) delivered presentations about their respective faculties' initiatives in launching computational social science and data science education programs. They shared challenges encountered during implementation, which sparked an active interdisciplinary discussion.
Finally, four students enrolled in the University of Amsterdam's (UvA) Computational Social Science degree program (one first-year and three third-year students) presented reports on their ongoing projects and shared experiential insights about their PBL (Problem-Based Learning) curriculum and project work.
This year again, we had very successful workshops over two days and we are confident that the future partnership between our two universities has been strengthened even further.
Program
The 2nd Joint CCSS-UvA Workshop on Computational Social Science and Intelligent Systems, Amsterdam 2025
Hosted by Center for Computational Social Science of Kobe University,
Jointly Supported by Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam / Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam / RIEB Seminar / Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists #24K16333
| Date | Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 9:45 - 17:10 Thursday, March 6, 2025, 11:00 - 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Venue | March 5: Lab 42, Room L3.36, Science Park Campus, Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam March 6: JK Building, Roeterseiland Campus, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam |
| Inteded Audience | Faculty, Graduate Students, and People with Equivalent Knowledge |
| Language | English |
| Details |
Day 1: March 5, 2025 at Science Park Campus
Moderators:
Ivan ROMIC (Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University)
Fernando P. SANTOS (Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam)
Presentation: 25 Minutes
Q&A: 5 Minutes
9:45～10:00 Walk-in and Registration
10:00～10:10 Opening Remarks and Introduction
- Masahiko SHIBAMOTO (Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University)
Ivan ROMIC (Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University)
Fernando P. SANTOS (Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam)
10:10～10:40
- Topic
- Cooperation and Reputation Dynamics in Hybrid Populations
- Presenter
- Alexandre PIRES (Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam)
10:45～11:15
- Topic
- Can LLMs Mirror Human Cooperation? Insights from Social Dilemmas
- Presenter
- Ivan ROMIC (Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University)
11:20～11:50
- Topic
- A Foundation Model for the Earth System
- Presenter
- Ana Lucic (Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation / Informatics Institute, UvA)
11:50～13:00 Lunch Break
13:00～13:15
- Topic
- Taming the 'Complexity' of Social Behavior: A Computational Approach to Social Norms
- Presenter
- Dhruv MITTAL (Informatics Institute, UvA)
13:15～13:30
- Topic
- Computational Approaches to Mental Health at the Symptom Level
- Presenter
- Kyuri PARK (Informatics Institute, UvA)
13:35～14:05
- Topic
- AI4FinTech and Explaining the Fraud
- Presenter
- Erman ACAR (Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation / Informatics Institute, UvA)
14:10～14:40
- Topic
- Identification of Relationship Lending in Bank-Borrower Networks
- Presenter
- Yoshitaka OGISU (Faculty of Economics, Konan University)
14:40～15:30 Coffee Break Discussion
15:30～16:00
- Topic
- Strategic Classification Dynamics
- Presenter
- Marta C COUTO (Informatics Institute, UvA)
16:05～16:35
- Topic
- A Clustering Approach to Understanding Social Adaptation to Intermittent Water Supply
- Presenter
- Shreyas GADGE (Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, UvA)
16:40～17:10
- Topic
- Dynamic Industry Segmentation for Anonymized Data: Methodology and Insights from the Entertainment Industry
- Presenter
- Shoka HAYAKI (Faculty of Economics, Kagawa University / RIEB, Kobe University)
Day 2: March 6, 2025 at Roeterseiland Campus
11:00～12:00
Session 1: Educational Talk
12:00～12:15
- Topic
- Welcome and Introduction to Computational Social Science at the UvA
- Presenter
- Eelke HEEMSKERK (Programme Director, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam)
12:15～12:35
- Topic
- Computational Social Science: The Amsterdam Way
- Presenter
- Steven PICKERING (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam)
12:35～13:15
- Topic
- Computational Social Science: Insights from Information Studies
- Presenter
- Giovanni SILENO (Informatics Institute, UvA)
13:20～13:55
- Topic
- Complex Systems and Policy: Research, Education, Valorization
- Presenter
- Vítor VASCONCELOS (Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam)
13:55～14:30 Afternoon Tea
Session 2: Round Table
Participants:
Steven PICKERING, Giovanni SILENO, and Vítor VASCONCELOS from Session 1
Hirofumi UCHIDA (Graduate School of Business Administration, Kobe University)
Tomomi MIYAZAKI (Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University)
Masahiko SHIBAMOTO (Center for Computational Social Science, Kobe University)
Regina NOCKERTS (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, UvA)
....and others...
14:30～15:15 Discussion 1
- Topic
- Experiences from Japan
15:15～16:00 Discussion 2
- Topic
- Experiences from Amsterdam: What Computational Social Science Means to Me