New England Complex Systems Institute
Encyclopedia
The New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) is an American
research institution dedicated to advancing the study of complex systems
. It was founded in 1996 and is located in Cambridge, MA.
":
, the origin and characterization of biodiversity
, and the interplay between evolution and ecology.
Much of the work done at NECSI has focused on the role of the spatial distribution of species, an often overlooked factor of evolutionary dynamics. In the case where portions of a population are geographically isolated from each other, for example, Yaneer Bar-Yam
was able to demonstrate shortcomings in the gene-centered view of evolution
, an approximation that is valid only if there is complete mixing of alleles in the gene pool.
have found surprising similarities between a variety of complex social, technological and biological networks. NECSI research in networks focuses on the relationship between structure, dynamics and function.
An essential tool for multiscale analysis, the complexity profile, the relationship between the observed complexity of a system and the scale of observation.
Affiliates
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
research institution dedicated to advancing the study of complex systems
Complex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
. It was founded in 1996 and is located in Cambridge, MA.
Overview
NECSI was established by faculty of various New England academic institutions, to encourage communication and collaboration on these topics. Their take on "complex systemsComplex systems
Complex systems present problems in mathematical modelling.The equations from which complex system models are developed generally derive from statistical physics, information theory and non-linear dynamics, and represent organized but unpredictable behaviors of systems of nature that are considered...
":
Complex systems have multiple interacting components whose collective behaviorCollective behaviorThe expression collective behaviour was first used by Robert E. Park, and employed definitively by Herbert Blumer, to refer to social processes and events which do not reflect existing social structure , but which emerge in a "spontaneous" way.Collective behavior might also be defined as action...
cannot be simply inferred from the behavior of components. The recognition that understanding the parts cannot explain collective behavior has led to various new concepts and methodologies that are affecting all fields of science and engineering, and are being applied to technology, business and even social policySocial policySocial policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
.
Evolution and Ecology
NECSI researchers have contributed to the understanding of evolutionary dynamics, the evolution of altruismAltruism in animals
Altruism is a well-documented animal behaviour, which appears most obviously in kin relationships but may also be evident amongst wider social groups, in which an animal sacrifices its own well-being for the benefit of another animal.- Overview :...
, the origin and characterization of biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, and the interplay between evolution and ecology.
Much of the work done at NECSI has focused on the role of the spatial distribution of species, an often overlooked factor of evolutionary dynamics. In the case where portions of a population are geographically isolated from each other, for example, Yaneer Bar-Yam
Yaneer Bar-Yam
Yaneer Bar-Yam is an American physicist, systems scientist, and founding president of the New England Complex Systems Institute.-Biography:...
was able to demonstrate shortcomings in the gene-centered view of evolution
Gene-centered view of evolution
The gene-centered view of evolution, gene selection theory or selfish gene theory holds that evolution occurs through the differential survival of competing genes, increasing the frequency of those alleles whose phenotypic effects successfully promote their own propagation, with gene defined as...
, an approximation that is valid only if there is complete mixing of alleles in the gene pool.
Networks
Studies of network topologiesNetwork topology
Network topology is the layout pattern of interconnections of the various elements of a computer or biological network....
have found surprising similarities between a variety of complex social, technological and biological networks. NECSI research in networks focuses on the relationship between structure, dynamics and function.
Representation
Complex systems exhibit behaviors at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. Researchers working at NECSI have developed a mathematical formalism for simultaneously describing systems on multiple scales. This formalism had been applied to physical systems, information systems, organizational behavior, engineering projects and military conflict.An essential tool for multiscale analysis, the complexity profile, the relationship between the observed complexity of a system and the scale of observation.
Further fields of research
- Systems BiologySystems biologySystems biology is a term used to describe a number of trends in bioscience research, and a movement which draws on those trends. Proponents describe systems biology as a biology-based inter-disciplinary study field that focuses on complex interactions in biological systems, claiming that it uses...
- Systems EngineeringSystems engineeringSystems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex engineering projects should be designed and managed over the life cycle of the project. Issues such as logistics, the coordination of different teams, and automatic control of machinery become more...
- Organizational Management
- NegotiationNegotiationNegotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties, intended to reach an understanding, resolve point of difference, or gain advantage in outcome of dialogue, to produce an agreement upon courses of action, to bargain for individual or collective advantage, to craft outcomes to satisfy...
Faculty, co-faculty and affiliates
Faculty and Co-Faculty- Yaneer Bar-YamYaneer Bar-YamYaneer Bar-Yam is an American physicist, systems scientist, and founding president of the New England Complex Systems Institute.-Biography:...
- Michel Baranger
- Dan Braha
- Charles CantorCharles CantorCharles Cantor is an American molecular geneticist who, in conjunction with David Schwartz, developed pulse field gel electrophoresis for very large DNA molecules....
- Richard Cooper
- Terrence DeaconTerrence DeaconTerrence William Deacon is an American anthropologist . He taught at Harvard for eight years, relocated to Boston University in 1992, and is currently Professor of Biological Anthropology and Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley.-Theoretical interests:Prof...
- Irving Epstein
- William Gelbart
- Ernest Hartmann
- Jerome KaganJerome KaganJerome Kagan was born in 1929, and grew up in Rahway, New Jersey, USA. Kagan is currently retired after being a professor at Harvard University in the Developmental program . He is one of the key pioneers of developmental psychology. He is Daniel and Amy Starch Research Professor of Psychology,...
- Mehran KardarMehran KardarMehran Kardar is a prominent Iranian born physicist, full Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and co-faculty at the New England Complex Systems Institute. He received his B.A...
- Les Kaufman
- Eric Klopfer
- Blake LeBaron
- Seth LloydSeth LloydSeth Lloyd is a professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He refers to himself as a "quantum mechanic"....
- Tom Petzinger
- Stuart Pimm
- Daniel Rothman
- Larry Rudolph
- Thomas SchellingThomas SchellingThomas Crombie Schelling is an American economist and professor of foreign affairs, national security, nuclear strategy, and arms control at the School of Public Policy at University of Maryland, College Park. He is also co-faculty at the New England Complex Systems Institute...
- Peter SengePeter SengePeter Michael Senge is an American scientist and director of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is known as author of the book The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization from 1990...
- Temple Smith
- John StermanJohn StermanJohn David Sterman is the Jay W. Forrester Professor of Management, and the current director of the MIT System Dynamics Group at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is also co-faculty at the New England Complex Systems Institute. He is mostly considered as the current leader of the System...
- James Stock
- Hiroshi Tasaka
- Günter Wagner
Affiliates
- Marcus de Aguiar
- Zvi Bar-Yam
- Bruce Boghosian
- Raffaele Calabretta
- Jeffrey Cares
- Marshall Clemens
- Gavin Crooks
- Meghan Dierks
- Helen Harte
- Steven Hassan
- Sui Huang
- Michael J. Jacobson
- Fumiaki Katagiri
- Andreas Kemper
- Mark Klein
- David Meyer
- Ali Minai
- Hiroki Sayama
- Tommaso ToffoliTommaso ToffoliTommaso Toffoli is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Boston University. He joined the faculty in 1995. He was born in June, 1943 in Montereale Valcellina, in northeastern Italy, and was raised in Rome. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Rome La...
- Omer Trajman
- Sheldon White
- Uri Wilensky