January 23, 2026
On 23 January, the PREPSHIELD project was featured at the first BRICSS webinar dedicated to Agent-Based Models (ABMs) of crises and disasters. The event brought together researchers and experts from across disciplines to explore how social simulation can support crisis preparedness and decision-making.
The webinar was organised by BRICSS – Building ResilienCe with Social Simulations, a Special Interest Group (SIG) within the European Social Simulation Association (ESSA), the leading international network for social simulation research. BRICSS aims to strengthen scholarly exchange on social simulation in crisis and disaster contexts and to promote the use of these methods as credible tools for policymakers and practitioners.
Sharing PREPSHIELD research and modeling results
During the webinar, Francesca Giardini (University of Groningen) presented key insights from the PREPSHIELD project. Her presentation focused on findings from the project’s empirical research as well as results from its agent-based models, which are designed to explore social dynamics, trust, and compliance in crisis situations.
The presentation generated strong interest and lively discussion among participants from different disciplinary backgrounds, highlighting the growing relevance of agent-based modeling for understanding complex social processes during crises and disasters.
Advancing social simulation for crisis preparedness
PREPSHIELD’s participation in the BRICSS webinar reflects the project’s commitment to advancing evidence-based, inclusive approaches to crisis preparedness through innovative modeling and interdisciplinary collaboration. Engaging with international research communities such as ESSA and BRICSS helps ensure that PREPSHIELD’s tools and insights contribute to broader scientific and policy discussions on disaster resilience.
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