Complex Systems

Complex Systems consist of many components that interact with one another. Currently Global Climate is the most popular complex system to study but there are many other man-made or natural complex systems thatwe do not understand fully. Before one can understand a complex system one must design a model of the system. Usually these models are too complex to be analysed mathematically so heuristic methods have to be used to adjust the free parameters in a model so that it fits experimental data in the real world.

Currently we have annual introductory courses in complex systems and heuristic methods, “Knowledge Based Systems” and “Topics inEvolutionary Algorithms”. There are also many advanced courses; in2003-4 we have “Swarm Intelligence”, “Data Mining, Machine Learning& Scientific Discovery” and “Multi-agent Systems &Coevolutionary Games”.

People

A tentative list of people involved in research and teaching of complex systems is:

• Brian Mayoh
• Thiemo Krink