Trusting Simulations over Experiments
I just finished reading “Science in the Age of Computer Simulation” by Eric Winsberg and want to write about a specific claim of the book. In the conclusions, Winsberg writes: “[…] simulations sometimes have great epistemic power – there are indeed some questions we can ask for which simulations provide much more reliable answers than…
Does Science Need Simulators?
Some simulators are useful. They help us predict the weather or train pilots before putting them into real planes. In science, simulators are used to make predictions that inspire experiments. But are simulators necessary for science? Science depends on real-world data. Few would disagree, scientist or not. But many scientists detest simulations. And outside of…
Simulation-Based Inference for Personalized Brain Models
Neuroscientists build computer models of brain parts to study its inner workings. Together with experiments, these models are valuable tools. They are mainly based on averages of many humans or non-human animals, so the conclusions from the model have a better chance of generalizing beyond the individual. However, a model can also be fit to…
“Digital Twin” – Just a Pretentious Name for a Model?
I just saw a tweet saying: “A “digital twin” is just a pretentious name for a model.” I don’t think that is entirely correct. A “digital twin” is a model, but it is a specific kind of model. Imagine a model of a photovoltaic power station (a pretentious name for a solar park). You can…
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Simulation-Based 