Mission for the Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity:

    The Center for Social Dynamics and Complexity leverages the emerging field of complex systems to foster interdisciplinary research on fundamental questions of social life. The Center brings together scientists from such diverse fields as anthropology, biology, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology, and sociology to collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams.

Our research foci fall into four broad clusters:

Innovation and Evolution: How do novel and innovative features emerge or evolve within groups?

Cohesion, Cooperation, and Conflict: How do individuals within groups interact, and how do these interactions affect intergroup relations, and fitness at individual and group levels?

Socioecology: How do societies interact with and influence their social and physical environments?

Social Allometry: How do social groups change in their dynamics and structure as they grow, develop and evolve?

     The Center's research integrates theoretical and empirical work, and often employs multilevel simulation and network dynamics as research approaches. The Center provides interdisciplinary seminars and informal interaction opportunities for affiliates, hosts visiting speakers, and organizes workshops involving the participation of national- and international-level scholars.