A retrospective review and reflection on the alignment of SIMULATION with the evolving professional realm of Modeling and Simulation

Abstract

This paper highlights the renewal and restructuring period for SIMULATION: Transactions of the Society for Modeling and Simulation (SCS) between 2008 and 2016. Following a retrospective review of the author’s formative years, evolving research interests, and continuing academic journey, the rationale for reorganizing the journal is examined in the context of the evolving professional realm of Modeling and Simulation (M&S). The alignment of the profession, developments in the broader M&S domain, and related SCS initiatives are discussed. The simulation discipline is viewed as a dynamic adaptive innovation ecosystem that brings the principles of the science of complexity to bear on the challenges to its resilience and vitality. The innovation dynamics and complexity perspectives imply future aspirations for the M&S discipline based on recent technological advancements, emerging trends in the scientific culture, and evolving societal demands.