4 ms·

Interdisciplinary and physics challenges of Network Theory

31 points by mathgenius 11y ago

Radim 11y ago
For a great, accessible intro talk on this topic, check out Geoffrey West's "On Complexity": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFVSvAr7Wc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFVSvAr7Wc
mitchtbaum 11y ago
Are there news sites that focus on network theory, complexity theory, chaos theory, information theory, etc?
- jesuslop 11y ago
  You can check John Baez's Azimuth blog (math oriented) at https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com.
hugh4 11y ago
I must admit my BS detectors are set off when anyone claims that their own little field of expertise is going to have a major impact on brain dynamics and quantum technologies and quantum gravity.
- GFK_of_xmaspast 11y ago
  The author is seriously overselling their claim, which is regretably common in the 'complex networks' field.
  - ala_la 11y ago
    Which claim is she overselling? It reads like a fairly conservative and well argued call for the continued involvement of theoretical physicists and mathematicians in the already very successful field of complex networks- and this is from one of the best researchers in the field. She is not claiming network science will take over and be at the heart of everything, but rather that network science has already had great success in widely different areas of science and as domain specialists become increasingly involved, it is important not to lose the focus on the theoretical underpinnings which can be shared across domains.
- archgoon 11y ago
  Why? If the field is looking at a fundamental problem, then it's basically true. Linear Algebra, for example, could claim legitimately having had major impact in brain dynamics, quantum technologies, and quantum gravity almost trivially given the sheer ubiquity of linear transformations. Likewise, the sheer ubiquity of networks (essentially, that just means graphs that change with time) in all sorts of problem domains makes understanding them, and improving the theoretical tools to model them, a win for all of them. It's really not that controversial of a statement. It's like hashtables, once you know about them, they're a fundamental data structure you use everywhere.

31 points by mathgenius 11y ago

Radim 11y ago

For a great, accessible intro talk on this topic, check out Geoffrey West's "On Complexity": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFVSvAr7Wc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFFVSvAr7Wc

mitchtbaum 11y ago

Are there news sites that focus on network theory, complexity theory, chaos theory, information theory, etc?

jesuslop 11y ago
You can check John Baez's Azimuth blog (math oriented) at https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com https://johncarlosbaez.wordpress.com.

hugh4 11y ago

I must admit my BS detectors are set off when anyone claims that their own little field of expertise is going to have a major impact on brain dynamics and quantum technologies and quantum gravity.

GFK_of_xmaspast 11y ago
The author is seriously overselling their claim, which is regretably common in the 'complex networks' field.
- ala_la 11y ago
  Which claim is she overselling? It reads like a fairly conservative and well argued call for the continued involvement of theoretical physicists and mathematicians in the already very successful field of complex networks- and this is from one of the best researchers in the field. She is not claiming network science will take over and be at the heart of everything, but rather that network science has already had great success in widely different areas of science and as domain specialists become increasingly involved, it is important not to lose the focus on the theoretical underpinnings which can be shared across domains.
archgoon 11y ago
Why? If the field is looking at a fundamental problem, then it's basically true. Linear Algebra, for example, could claim legitimately having had major impact in brain dynamics, quantum technologies, and quantum gravity almost trivially given the sheer ubiquity of linear transformations. Likewise, the sheer ubiquity of networks (essentially, that just means graphs that change with time) in all sorts of problem domains makes understanding them, and improving the theoretical tools to model them, a win for all of them. It's really not that controversial of a statement. It's like hashtables, once you know about them, they're a fundamental data structure you use everywhere.