Decision Sciences is a cross-disciplinary line of research that covers a range of themes, from information management through efficiency and productivity analysis to operational research and business analytics.
It is a key theme for the School of Business and Economics and researchers can be found across the School’s seven discipline groups.
The University is launching its Decision Sciences ‘Ambition’ and to mark the occasion it is hosting a day of events on 12 June.
The day will begin with a presentation by Professor Stewart Robinson, Dean of SBE, and Professor Tom Jackson, Associate Dean of Research, SBE.
The talks will be followed by an afternoon workshop, held in association with the UK’s Operational Research Society Simulation Special Interest Group.
It will take place from 12:30pm-5pm and will be hosted by the Simulation Practices Research Interest Group from SBE.
The workshop will share research findings about client engagement in simulation modelling and operational research.
Academics including Dr Antuela Tako, Professor Alberto Franco and Dr Kathy Kotiadis (Canterbury Christ Church University) will be presenting a number of themes, including stakeholder engagement in supporting the design of health and social care community-based services in Leicestershire.
They will also discuss simulation, unpacking micro processes of facilitated modelling practice and PartiSim - an approach developed to help engage clients in simulation projects.
From 5pm, attendees will have the chance to hear Professor Paul Fishwick’s lecture on The Art and Science of Modelling,
Professor Fishwick is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas, and is also a distinguished University Chair of Arts, Technology and Emerging Communication (ATEC).
He will be discussing the historic human characteristics of modelling, from when humans painted on cave walls, represented animals using natural materials and marking animal bones.
Finding people use both art and science to model - based on their experiences and imagination - Professor Fishwick will present a non-technical, cross-disciplinary introduction to modelling that will appeal to a range of disciplines from computer science and engineering to art, business and humanities.
After the lecture, Professor Fishwick will be doing a Q&A session alongside closing comments from the Dean of SBE, Professor Stewart Robinson.
Professor Paul Fishwick’s visit to the UK has been funded by the Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professorship award with University of Exeter Business School.
Dr Antuela Tako, a Reader in Operational Research at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, commented: “This event celebrates the Decision Sciences and the fascinating research that the School is engaged in. You can choose to attend either one or all parts of the event.
“In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to experience more closely one of the Decision Sciences research themes.
“You will hear about and even practice for yourself an exciting line of research that SBE leads internationally, that of facilitated modelling and client engagement through which we support organisations to make better decisions.”
She added: “We are honoured to be hosting Professor Paul Fishwick at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. He will give a fascinating view of simulation, by presenting a lecture which not only promises to tease your imagination but also inspire you.”
The Decision Sciences event is free to attend and booking for lectures and the workshop can be made online. For more information, please contact Ruth Cufflin at R.Cufflin@lboro.ac.uk.