The Complex Systems Group, in collaboration with the Graduate Colloquium
of the Computer Science Department, announces its Fall 2005 seminar series. All seminars will be held from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm in Room 110 of the Kresge-Purdy Library.

September 20, 2005
Complexity in Theory and Practice

Presented by Carl Simon, Director of the Center for the Study of Complex Systems at the University of Michigan.

The study of complex systems is taking hold across a wide range of fields, and is both a topic of academic research and a real-world tool to understand system behavior, used by business and government. The idea of a complex system goes beyond merely being complicated; we can see collective behaviors emerge that are not obviously present in the component parts. We will illustrate these ideas with examples from a range of disciplines, and also illustrate the use of common analysis tools developed by the community.

About Carl Simon: Professor of Mathematics, Economics and Public Policy at the University of Michigan and Director of the UM Center for the Study of Complex Systems. He also has research appointments in UM’s Center for Population Studies, School of Urban Planning, Michigan Center for Theoretical Physics, and Center for Russian and East European Studies. He is co-director of the UM Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility project, using complex systems models to study costs and benefits of future transportation options. He and his research group won the 1995 Howard M. Temin Award in Epidemiology for “Scientific Excellence in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS” for their demonstration that those infected with HIV are substantially more contagious during the first two months of their infection (often before simple blood tests can detect the infection) than during any other period until AIDS sets in.

October 18, 2005
Analytics and Complexity Science at Ford Motor Company Research & Advanced Engineering

Presented by Phil Tuchinsky, Technical Expert / Infotronics & System Analytics Dept., Ford Research & Advanced Engineering / Ford Motor Company.

November 8, 2005
Simulating Ancient Societies

Computer modeling is helping unravel the archaeological mysteries of the American Southwest. Presented by Robert Reynolds, Professor of Computer Science / Wayne State University.

For further information about the Complex Systems Group and the seminar series contact David Bowen at d.r.bowen@wayne.edu .