Biocomplexity Resources

Complex Systems

Online resources in this list address topics such as polymers, complex fluids, genetics, modeling, and complex system analysis. Many complex systems projects are multi-disciplinary, involving fields such as biology, mathematics, computer science, sociology, psychology, engineering, business and natural resources management.

• CIPEC Biocomplexity Project Overview. This biocomplexity project concentrates on using several types of mathematical modeling to inventory and predict land use / land cover patterns. Some of the modeling approaches that will be analyzed are econometric models, systems dynamics models, cellular automata models, and theoretical agent-based models. The goal of this research is to compare the strengths, weaknesses, and unique advantages of several modeling approaches. (more info)
  
• Centre for Research on Simulation in the Social Sciences. This center is dedicated to using computer models for monitoring and predicting distribution of sociological conditions. This site contains links to associated periodicals, textbooks, and web site resources. Other services of this site include reports on current research projects conducted by CRESS personnel and a list of modeling software available. (more info)
  
• Cormas - Natural Resource and Multi-Agent Simulations. Cormas is a programming environment dedicated to the creation of multi-agent systems as it applies to natural resources management. This site is devoted to the applied modeling of relationships between societies and their environment. These programs concentrate on developing simulation models that identify relationships between individuals and groups that jointly use common resources. (more info)
  
• InterJournal. InterJournal is a refereed World Wide Web-based Internet journal that covers a variety of topics, including complex systems, polymers, complex fluids, and genetics. The central journal database consists of abstracts, comments and relevant manuscript information including pointers to the internet address of the original article. These articles are available for the user to browse under general subject headings or can be searched using keywords. (more info)
  
• New England Complex Systems Institute. This is an independent educational and research institution dedicated to advancing the study of complex systems. New concepts and methodologies regarding these systems are affecting all fields of science and engineering, and are being applied to technology, business and even social policy. This website provides information at various comprehension levels and thus can be utilized by newcomers and experts of complex system analysis. The sections included on this website include research, education, activities, and news. (more info)
  
• Syllabus of Readings for Complex Adaptive Systems and Agent-Based Computational Economics. This site is a source of readings for the weekly interdisciplinary Complex Adaptive Systems Workshop at Iowa State University. Many natural systems, and increasingly many artificial systems as well, are characterized by apparently complex behaviors that arise as the result of nonlinear spatio-temporal interactions among a large number of components or subsystems. Examples of such natural systems include immune systems, nervous systems, multicellular organisms, ecologies, and insect societies. (more info)
  
• The Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation. This is the homepage for the quarterly journal known as JASSS, which is "an inter-disciplinary journal for the exploration and understanding of social processes by means of computer simulation". Users of this website can browse the articles of past or current issues as well as performing basic or advanced searches for specific topics. The articles are complete and are shown with color graphics and even animated visual elements. (more info)
  
• The Santa Fe Institute - Homepage. The Santa Fe Institute seeks to catalyze new collaborative, multidisciplinary projects that break down the barriers between the traditional disciplines, to spread its ideas and methodologies to other individuals and encourage the practical applications of its results. The information on this site includes business networking, educational opportunities, employment opportunities, event calendar, library services, and reports on publications and research. (more info)
  
• The Society for Chaos Theory in Psychology & Life Sciences. An international forum bringing together researchers, theoreticians, and practitioners interested in applying dynamical systems theory, far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics, self-organization, neural nets, fractals cellular automata, and related forms of chaos, catastrophes, bifurcations, nonlinear dynamics, and complexity theories to psychology and the life sciences. This website includes information that explains the basics of the chaos theory and provided tutorials to help explain this concept. In addition, the website includes conference reports, journal articles, and a data library. (more info)