Social Computing Modeling & Teaching

Olá! My name is Eric Araújo and I am currently an Associate Professor in the Computer Science Department at Calvin University

My research explores computational approaches to understanding human behavior and social dynamics. The main principle of my studies are the intention to contribute meaningfully to the common good through rigorous scholarship and ethical frameworks. I investigate the spread of opinions, sentiments, and behaviors in complex systems through multiagent modeling and simulations, offering insights into social dynamics across diverse domains including politics, cooperation, health, criminology, and religion.

At Calvin University, I teach courses in computer science, data science, and agent-based modeling, always emphasizing the integration of faith and learning. I am passionate about mentoring students in research that combines technical excellence with Christian values, preparing them for careers that serve both God and society.

Academic Formation¶

Ph.D. in Computer Science (2018)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dissertation: Computational modeling of social contagion processes

M.S. in Computer Science (2009)
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Focus: Computer Networks: Protocol TCP and its Applications

B.S. in Computer Science (2007)
Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil
Free Software Development and FPGA Applications

🔬 Research & Scholarship¶

Most of my writings will be found in here. This page is permanently under construction, so if you want to have my whole body of publications in one place, I recommend going to my Google Scholar profile.

You can also find my CV in Portuguese at Lattes CV. Also, my social networks in English are ResearchGate and Threads.

My CV in English is available in this link and my ORCID.

I have also created a YouTube channel during the 2020 pandemic to divulge my work as well as teaching resources on Agent-based modeling with Netlogo.

You can find my PhD Thesis in here: Contagious: Modeling the spread of behaviours, perceptions and emotions in social networks

Please let me know if any links are not working, or if you need some of my papers and can’t access them by emailing me.

Multidisciplinary Approach¶

My work bridges computer science with multiple domains, using computational tools to address real-world challenges:

🙏 Community, Faith & Computational Modeling: Understanding the main dynamics of faith communities through the use of computational models
🏛️ Political Science: Modeling opinion dynamics and polarization in communities
🏥 Public Health: Understanding behavior spread and intervention strategies
🛡️ Public Security: Analyzing crime patterns through network topology
📱 Social Computing: Investigating misinformation spread and social influence
🌱 Behavioral Change: Promoting healthier lifestyles through computational insights

Core Methodologies:

• Agent-based modeling and simulation

• Complex network analysis

• Social dynamics modeling

• Cognitive behavioral frameworks

• Machine learning applications

📰 Recent Updates & Achievements¶

🚀 Call for Papers: AI & STEM Track Now Open¶

The call for papers for the AI & STEM track at the Wisdom in the Age of AI Conference is now open! Submissions are welcome at the intersection of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and Christianity.

Read the full Call for Papers and → submit your work

🔗 Explore More¶

“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’” - Abraham Kuyper