Operations Research in Economics: Optimisation & Decision Science with Python

Operations Research in Economics: Optimisation & Decision Science with Python

Time: 8:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Date: 31 July 2026

Venue: Citywest, WayLee building (Meeting room will be sent to the email once registered)

Following the fantastic response to our Python Coding & Machine Learning for Economists workshop, YEN SA is back with the next instalment in our technical toolkit series!

Operations research is the science of making better decisions. Every day, airlines schedule crews, power companies decide which generators to switch on, and logistics firms route thousands of deliveries - all by solving optimisation problems that would be impossible to work out by hand. From minimising costs and emissions to allocating scarce resources under tight constraints, these tools sit behind many of the systems the modern economy depends on.

Operations research is used to:

• Route and schedule deliveries, freight, and public transport
• Plan electricity generation and dispatch across the grid
• Schedule airline crews, flights, and staff rosters
• Manage supply chains, inventory, and warehouse operations
• Site facilities such as warehouses, hospitals, and charging stations
• Allocate scarce resources in health, disaster response, and government

What you'll learn

• The core ideas of operations research and how to turn a real decision into a mathematical model
• Linear programming: formulating and solving optimisation problems
• Integer programming: tackling scheduling, allocation, and network problems

Registration

YEN Members: $15

Non-Members: $35

• Places are strictly limited to 15 participants to ensure a highly interactive, hands-on learning experience with opportunities for individual support and discussion.
• Early registration is recommended as places are expected to fill quickly.
• Participants need to bring their own laptop to follow along with the exercises.

Workshop schedule

8:45 AM – 8:50 AM

Registration and Arrival

8:50 AM – 9:00 AM

Welcome and Introduction

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Topic 1: An Introduction to Operations Research

10:00 AM – 10:10 AM

Break

10:10 AM – 11:10 AM

Topic 2: Linear Programming

11:10 AM – 11:20 AM

Break

11:20 AM – 12:20 PM

Topic 3: Integer Programming

12:20 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch and Networking Session

Included

Morning tea

Light Lunch

Networking session with fellow students, researchers, and operations research professionals

More Python workshops for economists are planned for later in this series. Details for the next session will be announced shortly.