The NetLogo Center will host its first user conference in June 29 - July 1, 2026, in Chicago!

The conference brings together researchers and educators (especially middle and high school) who use NetLogo or are interested in learning more about it. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, both tracks offer something valuable. Information on the educator and research tracks are below.

A preliminary schedule for the conference can be viewed here (tabs at the bottom for the three days and full speaker list).

Educator track

NetLogo is a free award-winning software used by educators and scientists around the world for computer modeling across the natural and social sciences. It has been used to help students learn about topics ranging from chemical reactions to economic systems, anything in which many individual parts interact to produce a larger pattern. Its creator, Northwestern University professor of learning sciences and computer science Uri Wilensky, recently won the prestigious Yidan Prize for his work developing it. It also used in many OpenSciEd units. To learn more, watch this introduction to NetLogo in education (6 min):

What to expect for the educator track

The conference, which runs from June 29 to July 1 in Chicago, features a mix of hands-on workshops, thought-provoking presentations, and collaborative planning time, because we know the best conferences give you both new ideas and time to figure out how to actually use them. Sessions include:

• NetLogo 101: a welcoming entry point if you're new to NetLogo
• Using AI to modify NetLogo models: customize them for your specific teaching needs 
• Block-based programming in NetLogo: bring computational thinking and modeling into your classroom without requiring students to write code
• Domain-specific models and curricula: get concrete materials for your subject (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics, probability/statistics, economics, social studies)
• Modeling and model-based inquiry: what it means and why it matters across disciplines
• Research presentations: see how NetLogo is used across a variety of research disciplines (ecology, biology, economics, etc.)
• Industry panel: a look at how agent-based modeling is used in professional settings and can be relevant to students beyond the classroom 
• Dedicated planning and collaboration time to work with other educators or researchers on models and curricula and map out how to bring what you've learned into your classroom. 

Sessions span a range of experience levels and disciplines. Some will be applicable to any domain and some will be dedicated to models specific to a natural science, social science or mathematics class. 

Full information on workshops and registration info is here: https://conference.netlogo.org/2026/

Researcher track

NetLogo is used in thousands of scientific publications across disciplines. The researcher track will focus on research presentations and workshops on various aspects of NetLogo and agent-based modeling. A full list of events and workshops are on a separate conference site here: https://conference.netlogo.org/2026/.

Keynote Speakers and Industry Panel

We are very excited to have three great keynote speakers:

• Professor Uri Wilensky, creator of NetLogo
• Professor Josh Epstein, founding Director of the NYU Agent-Based Modeling Laboratory
• Professor Moira Zellner, Director of Participatory Modeling and Data Science, Northeastern University.

We will also have an industry panel of companies using ABM in practice including Epistemix, Macrocosm, and Aleria.

Dates and registration

• Dates: June 29 – July 1, 2026 (Mon-Wed)
• Location: University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) — Student Center East, 750 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 
• Register by May 1st for early bird pricing:
  • Registration info here: https://conference.netlogo.org/2026/
  • Scholarships are available, don't let cost be a barrier! Contact us to learn more ([email protected])
• Professional development hours for teachers in IL: The conference counts towards ISBE professional development hours (21 hours if you attend all three days).
  • Registration for PD hours here: ISBE PD registration
  • Note, this is just for PD hours, registration for the conference itself is at the previous link. 

Spots are limited, register today!

Send questions to [email protected]

Future Announcements

Future announcements about the conference will be made through the NetLogo Announcements email list (sign up here), on the Announcements page, on the forum.