Transdisciplinary Research Initiative in Complex Systems Complex Systems TRI Working Group: Assoc. Prof. Margaret J. Eppstein, Computer Science, (Chair) Asst. Prof. Chris Danforth, Mathematics Assoc. Prof. Charles Hulse, Family Medicine Prof. Charles Irvin, Medicine Asst. Prof. David Novak, Business Asst. Prof. Alessandra Rellini, Psychology Assoc. Prof. Donna Rizzo, Engineering Prof. Russell Tracy, Pathology Asst. Prof. Asim Zia, Public
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Proposal for a UVM Transdisciplinary Research Initiative in Complex Systems Complex Systems TRI Working Group: Assoc. Prof. Margaret J. Eppstein, Computer.
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Proposal for a UVMTransdisciplinary Research Initiative
in Complex Systems
Complex Systems TRI Working Group:Assoc. Prof. Margaret J. Eppstein, Computer Science, (Chair)
Asst. Prof. Chris Danforth, MathematicsAssoc. Prof. Charles Hulse, Family Medicine
Prof. Charles Irvin, MedicineAsst. Prof. David Novak, Business
Asst. Prof. Alessandra Rellini, PsychologyAssoc. Prof. Donna Rizzo, Engineering
Prof. Russell Tracy, PathologyAsst. Prof. Asim Zia, Public Administration
What is Complex Systems Science and why is it important?
Complex Systems Comprise:
Collections of (heterogeneous) entities (molecules, cells, genes, fish, plants, people,
electrical substations, planets, etc.)
These entities can ‘compute’ (have I/O, state)
Entities interact with other entities and their environment
Interactions are localized and self-organizing(nonlinear, dynamic, possibly chaotic)
Collective Dynamics of a Complex System give rise to ‘Emergent Properties’ at higher scales
in space and/or time
e.g., cooperation such as swarming; intelligence, consciousness;
robustness, adaptability, pattern formation, dynamics at the edge-of-chaos, etc.
Similar theoretical, mathematical and computational approaches can be applied to
diverse systems.
Can we understand, and potentially engineer, the emergent properties of complex systems?
Food webPower Grid Regulatory network
Climate dynamicsEcosystems Epileptic seizures
“The Promise of Complex Systems research is that universal principles learned from one area could lead to exciting breakthroughs in seemingly unrelated disciplines”
Complex Systems Theory and MethodsAgent-based modeling (including cell automata)
Chaos, Fractals, & Dynamical systems theoryComplex Network science
Game TheoryMulti-scale modelingDistributed control
Nonlinear pattern recognition and data miningEvolutionary, Adaptive, Developmental approaches
Bio-inspired Computing (ANNs, EC)Etc.
Data Collection TechnologyHigh-throughput Microarrays
Molecular ImagingDistributed Sensor Networks
Web mining, Etc.
Computational CapabilitiesMassive Data Storage
Rapid Data AccessProcessor speed
Distributed and parallel computingEtc.
Increasing Recognition of
the Limits of Reductionism
Complex Systems Science is at an exciting time of Maturation
Consequently, there has been a recent “Call to Arms” for using Complex Systems Approaches in a variety of Disciplines, by prominent scientists and engineers in top journals.
2006
ComPlexUs 2003Spread of Crime
Traffic jams
Marriage
Complex Systems is highly fundable:
Complex Systems play a prominent role in the strategic plans and current funding opportunities (including solicitations for large center grants) at NSF, NIH, DOE, DHS, and other funding agencies.
Building Blocks, Biological Pathways, and NetworksComplex elements—from individual genes to entire organs—work together in a feat of biological teamwork to promote normal development and sustain health. These systems work because of intricate and interconnected pathways that enable communication among genes, molecules, and cells. Scientists are still working to discover all of these pathways and to determine how disturbances in them may lead to disease.
NanomedicineA long-term goal of this NIH Roadmap is to create materials and devices at the level of molecules and atoms to cure disease or repair damaged tissues, such as bone, muscle, or nerve. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, too small to be seen with a conventional lab microscope. And it is at this scale that biological molecules and structures inside living cells operate. Researchers have set their sights on replacing broken parts of a cell with miniature biological devices and searching out and destroying infectious agents before they do harm.
Opportunities for Grad Education have lagged behind this growing demand:
•Non-credit summer schools (e.g., Santa Fe Inst., New England Complex Systems Inst, etc.)
•Graduate Certificates or tracks (e.g., UVM, U. Mich, Duke, Ind. U)
•PhDs in certain aspects of Complex Systems (CalTech, U. Minn, Harvard, MIT, Case Western, Fl. Atl. U.)
•NSF IGERTs in complex systems areas (Northwestern, Cornell, Carnegie-Mellon, Johns-Hopkins, U. Mich., U. Nebr. Lincl., Ind. U.)
•A few foreign PhDs (Sweden, Japan)
Opportunities for Grad Education have lagged behind this growing demand:
•BUT no stand-alone PhD in Complex Systems in the US.
•NO academic institutions using Complex Systems as a unifying campus-wide transdisciplinary theme.
BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR UVM TO FILL THIS NICHE AND STAND OUTOUR RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE AND COMPACT CAMPUS WILL HELP
What are UVM’s current strengths in Complex Systems?
Interest in Complex Systems has blossomed across campus:
•Since 2000: Grass-roots group in natural computing and agent-based modeling (biology, plant biology, computer science, engineering); reading groups, courses, publications, grants, etc.
•2006 faculty organized VACC-funded Biocomplexity Retreat (molecular to ecological scales): 33 faculty from 5 colleges.
•2006 CEMS thrust: Complex Systems Center, 30 faculty from across campus, listserve (248 recipients), reading group (72 on email list), speakers, GRAs, CSYS courses, etc.
•2006-2010: 6 New CEMS Complex Systems Hires in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Biomedical)
Interest in Complex Systems has blossomed across campus:
•2007-2010: NSF EPSCoR RII “Complex Systems Thinking and Modeling for Environmental Problem Solving” ($6.7M); funded group collaboration biocomplexity and watershed experts plus 15 pilot projects and many GRAs across campus.
•Building relationships with external enterprises: $1B+ Mitre Corp opening satellite office at UVM, similar discussions with IBM Research, Sandia Natl. Labs.
•Complex Ecosystems Modeling at Gund Institute for Ecological Economics
•Complex Materials Research by transdisciplinary Materials Science Group
•Various researchers from systems biology to complex social and governance structures
Sources of data regarding UVM faculty interest in Complex Systems:
1) Complex Systems Center Faculty Member profiles (30)
3) Additional memos to committee (27 written, many oral)
At least 50 faculty self-describe their research as all or partly in Complex Systems: 13 in ‘core’ theory and methods who work in multiple application domains (in Comp Sci, Math, Engr), 37 who work largely in specific application domains (Med, MPBP, CDAE, BSAD, Pbio, Biochem, Engr, Phys, Phil, Biol, RSENR, Gund).
At least another 50 faculty either already do, or would like to, collaborate with Complex Systems faculty to bring a Complex Systems component into their research (Med, Neurosci, Psych, An. Sci, Biol, Geol, BSAD, Ed, Engr, RSENR, Math, MMG, Neurol, Nursing, PSS, Psych, Rom. Lang.)
These numbers are conservative estimates.
Stuart Kauffman is joining UVM next 3 fall semesters as research professor in Biochemistry and Mathematics
A founder of the field of Complex Systems
MacArthur “Genius” Fellow
Helped establish the Santa Fe Institute
Emeritus Professor of Biochem at U. Penn.
Founded Bios Group (Complex Systems Business Consulting)
Founded Inst. for Biocomplexity & Informatics at U. Calgary
~300 peer-reviewed papers
5 books
Runs a science blog on npr.org
Extremely well-cited (e.g., over 4000 citations on Origins of Order)
Current Graduate Education in Complex Systems at UVM:
•Certificate of Graduate Study in Complex Systems (5 courses)(Started Fall 2009; 9 matriculated, 3 applying, more interested)
Complex Systems synergizes with other Disciplinary Areas
Core Complex Systems Theory
and Methods
Complex Systems Application Domains
Complex Systems Application Domains
Complex Systems synergizes with other Disciplinary Areas
new umbrella PhD in Complex Systems, with named tracks*
*46
New Complex Systems Tracks, within existing strong PhDs **
**54
Core Complex Systems Theory and
Methods
Core Complex Systems Theory
and Methods
Core Complex Systems Theory and
Methods
Complex Systems Application Domains
Complex Systems Application Domains
Complex Systems synergizes with other Disciplinary Areas
Transdisciplinary Complex Systems Matrix Center or School:
Faculty Joint Appts in Complex Systems (1ary and 2ary)
and another Discipline
Provide opportunities and time for Faculty Development and New Collaborations in Complex Systems at UVM
CSYS Seminars (application-domain specific) 79%CSYS Seminars (wider audience) 77%1-day intensive Workshops in CSYS methodologies 73%Loosely organized get-togethers 62%UVM-based CSYS conference 56%Pilot funding for transdisciplinary CSYS collaborations 90%Faculty fellowships: release time for developing projects 87%Faculty fellowships: release time for prof. development 80%Visiting CSYS scholars in residence for 1-3 months 79%Transdisciplinary CSYS GRAs 67%Co-housing for transdisipilinary CSYS grad students 63%Co-housing for transdisipilinary CSYS faculty 51%
Inte
rest
ed
in a
tten
ding
Impo
rtan
t for
CS
YS S
pire
Ultimately sustained by partial return of grant overheads to Complex Systems Center or School
Continue to Establish strong relationships with other institutions around Complex Systems:
• Bring high-skills jobs and companies to VT
• Promote industry-sponsored funding for grad students
• Develop relevant cutting-edge applied research at UVM
• Promote technology transfer from UVM to business and industry
STIMULATE VERMONT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
OVPR
3 Investment Scenarios
High Resource
Medium Resource
Low Resource
Number of new “Core” CSYS theory and
methods faculty
15 10 5
Number of new disciplinary
scholars using CSYS
9 (3 in each of 3
areas*)
6 (3 in each of 2
areas*)
3 (in one area*)
Expected Outcomes
UVM becomes international
leader in CSYS
UVM establishes strong national
presence in CSYS
Minimum necessary for a successful CSYS
PhD
Potential CSYS Resource Investment Scenarios
*Solicit competitive proposals from faculty to select disciplinary areas
Complex Systems is a uniquely trans-disciplinary area that:a) Is intellectually rich, scientifically important, eminently
fundable, and a ‘ripe’ opportunity for strategic investment
b) Has strong grass-roots strengths and excitement among UVM faculty, imminent arrival of Stuart Kauffman
c) Can create a unifying theme to connect and synergize currently separated pockets of strength on campus
d) Can help to strengthen and synergize with other strong programs
e) Offers UVM a unique opportunity to become the World-Class Leader in this area
f) Has strong potential to stimulate VT economic development
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR STRATEGIC INVESTMENT at UVM!