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;

genetic regulation – homeostasis, development, disease;

cascading failures in electrical grid; invasiveness in plants;

hurricanes; self-repairing materials;

Life; etc.

Complex Physical, Biological, and Social Systems often have similar properties

e.g., interaction network topologies, scaling phenomena, phase transitions, tipping points,

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”

-- NSF Solicitation 09-610 “Building Engineering Complex Systems”

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)

2) Survey Respondents (139 responses, 112 complete, 105 research active, 85 provided names)

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)

CSYS/Math 300: Principles of Complex SystemsCSYS/CS 302: Modeling Complex SystemsCSYS/Math 266: Chaos, Fractals & Dynamical SystemsCSYS/Math 303: Complex NetworksCSYS/Biol/CS 352: Evolutionary ComputationCSYS/Stat/CS 256: Neural ComputationCSYS/Stat/CS 355: Statistical Pattern RecognitionCSYS/Stat/CE 369: Applied GeostatisticsCSYS/CE 359: Applied Artificial Neural NetworksCSYS/Math 268: Mathematical Biol & EcolCSYS/CS 251: Artificial IntelligenceCSYS/ME 312: Multi-scale Bioengr SystemsCSYS/ME 350: Multi-scale modelingPA 308: Decision Making ModelsPA 317: Systems Anal & Strategic ManagementBiol 271: EvolutionPhys 265: Thermal Physics

Core CSYS Theory and Methods

Application-domain specific CSYS courses

What do we envision for

Complex Systems at UVM?

Core Complex Systems Theory

and Methods

Core Complex Systems Theory and

Methods

Complex Systems Application Domains

Complex Systems Application Domains

Develop Full Range of Options

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

ttend

ing

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!