NECSI Announces Summer Courses
New England Complex Systems Institute announces summer courses on complex physical, biological and social systems, modeling, networks and evolution of complex systems June 12-23, 2006
NECSI Summer School
June 12-23, 2006
Each program is the equivalent of a one semester course in a one week format. They may be taken independently or consecutively. If desired, arrangements for credit at a home institution should be made in advance.
Week One
CX201: Complex Physical, Biological and Social SystemsDates: June 12-16, 2006
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
This course offers an introduction to the essential concepts of complex systems and related mathematical methods and simulation strategies with application to physical, biological and social systems. The course will particularly focus on the use of multiscale representations as a unifying approach to complex systems concepts, methods and applications.
Concepts to be discussed include: emergence, complexity, networks, self-organization, pattern formation, evolution, adaptation, fractals, chaos, cooperation, competition, attractors, interdependence, scaling, dynamic response, information, and function.
Methods to be discussed include: statistical methods, cellular automata, agent-based modeling, pattern recognition, system representation and informatics.
WEEK TWO
CX202: Modeling, Networks & Evolution of Complex Systems
Dates: June 19-23, 2006
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
This course offers a systematic study of three key complex systems areas.
Modeling: "how to" build models of complex systems (physical, biological, social and engineering).
Networks: network models of complex systems: nodes and links, connectivity; topologies: small worlds, scale free, modular; dynamics of networks.
Evolution: evolution in biology, social and engineered systems, altruism and selfishness, speciation, diversity, and spatial models.
Target Audience
These courses are intended for faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and others who would like to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of complex systems, and develop methodological tools for conducting research in their respective fields.
More information and registration
Please note that the International Conference on Complex Systems ICCS 2006 takes place just after the Summer School, June 25-30, 2006