January 5-16, 2015
NECSI Winter School
Early Registration Open
January 5-9: Complex Physical, Biological & Social Systems
January 11: Computer Programming and Complex Systems
January 12-16: Complex Systems Modeling and Networks
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
TARGET AUDIENCE
These courses are intended for faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, professionals and others who would like to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of complex systems for application to research in their respective fields, or as a basis for pursuing complex systems research.
The winter school offers two intensive week-long courses. The courses consist of lectures, discussions, and supervised group projects. Though the second week builds on material covered in the previous week, one is not a prerequisite for the other. You may register for either or both weeks. If desired, arrangements for credit at a home institution may be made in advance.
See course descriptions below or online at:
http://www.necsi.edu/education
WEEK ONE CX201: Complex Physical, Biological and Social Systems
Dates: January 5-9, 2015
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.
http://necsi.edu/education/sch
LAB CX102: Computer Programming and Complex
Systems Date: January 11, 2015
This course introduces computer programming in the Python language for those with little or no computer programming experience. It is designed as a precursor to CX202.
The course will present programming concepts and hands-on exercises. Topics to be covered include: data structures, algorithms, variables and assignments, numerical and logical operations, lists and dictionaries, user-defined functions, flow control, loops, and visualization.
http://necsi.edu/education/sch
WEEK TWO CX202: Complex Systems Modeling and Networks
Dates: January 12-16, 2015
This course provides (a) an introduction to building models of complex systems (physical, biological, social and engineered), and (b) the study of networks, including topologies and dynamics of real world networks.
The course will cover the basic construction and analysis of models including identifying what is to be modeled, constructing a mathematical representation, analysis
tools and implementing and simulating the model in a computer program. Particular attention will be paid to choosing the right level of detail for the model, testing its robustness, and discussing which questions a given model can or cannot answer.
The study of networks will introduce the use of network topologies and the characterization of networks describing complex systems, including such concepts as small worlds, degree distribution, diameter, clustering coefficient, modules, and motifs. Different types of network topologies and network behaviors that model aspects of real complex systems will be described including: modular, sparse, random, scale-free, influence, transport, transformation, and structure.
NOTE: Students without a background in programming are strongly recommended to attend CX102: Computer Programming and Complex Systems in conjunction with CX202.
http://necsi.edu/education/sch
Comments from previous students:
Excellent course...useful thematic overview... applications in diverse contexts were exciting. Particularly appreciated the group project - excellent experiential pedagogy.
The course was an eye-opening framework to analyze my work through a different lens.
Presentations were extremely useful for me in understanding how to begin modeling complex systems and assessing them. Helped me understand a lot of things I have been doing so far without clearly understanding the principles.
This class very much stretched my mind to apply the ideas of complexity to the world... I believe I learned more on a grander scale... will help enrich my vocabulary and the way of thinking in the world with respect to complexity.
Excellent class. I hope to take a more active role in the community.
This course contained more insight than any other 'complexity' themed course that I have taken.
For more information and registration, visit: http://necsi.edu/education/sch
New England Complex Systems Institute
New England Complex Systems Institute
210 Broadway Suite 101
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-547-4100
Fax: 617-661-7711
necsi.edu
