ESSA@work has a long tradition within the European Social Simulation community. It is based on the desire to give and receive feedback on work-in-progress (agent-based) models. Participants present a model they are working on to gather feedback and suggestions to improve, adapt and/or extend their model.

Participants present a model they are working on to gather feedback and suggestions to improve, adapt and/or extend their model. The model can be at any stage of development, however, it should have been at least partially explored by authors, and they should prepare clear and concise questions/problems that they are struggling with in relation to the model. Participants are asked to submit these questions ahead of time to allow for the preparation of feedback. Feedback to participants comes from two different sources: two expert modellers and the audience. The audience is invited to serve as ad-hoc experts by joining the expert panel in a fish-bowl set-up. In the feedback process, emphasis is placed on constructive exploration of possible solutions to the problems raised by the participants.