Cheick Amed Diloma Gabriel Traore

Dr. Cheick Amed Diloma Gabriel Traore is a researcher specializing in modeling multi-agent systems. He earned his PhD from Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Senegal. His doctoral research focused on the formalization and simulation of Sahelian transhumance as a complex adaptive system. Utilizing mathematical and computational techniques, he developed agent-based models to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of transhumant herds, taking into account factors such as herd behavior, environmental conditions, and socio-economic pressures. To design the models for his dissertation, Dr. Traore conducted extensive fieldwork in Senegal. He collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to collect data on transhumant practices within the Sahelian ecosystem. With this data, he created a multi-objective optimization framework to model the movement decisions of transhumants and their herds. Additionally, he developed a real-time monitoring system for transhumant herds based on discrete mathematics. His doctoral research was funded by the CaSSECS project (Carbon Sequestration and Sustainable Ecosystem Services in the Sahel).

Before pursuing his PhD, Dr. Traore obtained both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Nazi Boni University in Burkina Faso. During his studies, he developed a rectangular grid for image processing and applied the Hough transform to detect discrete lines. His master’s and bachelor’s degrees were funded by the Burkinabe government. Currently,

Dr. Traore is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Computer Engineering and Telecommunications at the Polytechnic School of Ouagadougou. In addition to his role in student training, he is working on integrating viability theory with agent-based modeling to address sustainable development challenges in rapidly changing and complex socio-economic systems. His research has been published in several renowned conferences and scientific journals, and he continues to actively contribute to the fields of complex systems modeling and image processing.

Alexander Melchior

Alexander is currently a senior advisor at the Dutch government for the responsible use AI and algorithms by the government. He works at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Climate and Green Growth and the Ministry or Agriculture, Fisheries, Food safety and Nature.

In the past 7 years he pursued a PhD on the effective use of Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) for complex policy process. This PhD enabled him to combine his work and experiences in a policy world with ABM. It resulted in a Thesis titles “Modelling for Policy is More than Policy Modelling; The Useful Application of Agent-Based Modelling in Complex Policy Processes”. The Thesis is due to be defended in June 2025.

In his talk he will share his thoughts on the difference and similarities between policy modelling and modelling for policy. He will also discuss his experiences of combing policy development and modelling for policy. While being part of both worlds offers great oppermunities it also presents various challenges when one wants to seize these opportunities.

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