Para Limes

Conference: Emerging Patterns

Conference: Emerging Patterns

Date: 2 – 4 March 2015

Venue: Nanyang Executive Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Address: 60 Nanyang View, Singapore 639673

Synopsis

The conference Emerging Patterns is about complex systems.

​It is about the one property that is distinct to all1: Emergence, roughly described by the common phrase: “The action of the whole is more than the sum of the actions of the parts”.

​Emerging patterns is also about one of the unifying goals of the 21st century science: “Understanding emergent behavior in its many different guises”2.

​As David Pines, one of the founders of the Santa Fe Institute wrote on occasion of its 30th anniversary: “Understanding such behavior requires a focus on the emergent properties that characterize the system as a whole and a search for their origin. It means identifying emergent collective patterns and regularities through experiment or observation, and then devising models that embody candidate collective organizing concepts and principles that might explain them”.

​Examples of emergent behavior are everywhere around us, from birds flocking, fireflies synchronizing, ants colonizing, people urbanizing, individuals self-organizing into neighborhoods, cultures evolving – all with no leaders or social control-, to the Big Bang, the formation of galaxies and stars and planets, the unfolding of history and future, the evolution of life on earth from its origins until now, the folding of proteins, the assembly of cells, the superconductivity of electrons in some metals, the evolution of technologies and their impact on society, the changing global climate or the development of consciousness in an infant.

​The twelve speakers of the conference will address such examples. All speakers are leaders in their field and will give meaning to complexity and its emerging patterns from the perspective of their interests and background. ​They are uniquely qualified to address these issues, and to hear them share their insights in complexity and partake in their discussions will be a great experience for all participants to the conference. The setting of the conference is informal. After each talk there will be ample time for the audience and the speakers to discuss and meet.

​This is the fourth conference in what by now has become an annual NTU event, that is widely recognized as unique in South East Asia, in which some of the best scientists and thinkers in the area of complexity will share their views with you. It is also the first conference organized under the auspices of Para Limes, the successor of the complexity program. ​Para Limes alludes to a world beyond boundaries and that is where Para Limes will position its explorations. Emerging Patterns is the first of such explorations.

​We warmly invite you to actively take part in it.
1John H. Holland (2014), Complexity, a very short introduction, Oxford University Press
2Davis Pines (2014), Emergence, a unifying theme for 21st century science, SF@30 Foundations and Frontiers

Videos & Presentation Slides

Jan Wouter Vasbinder – Welcome Remarks and Opening Address

Member, Para Limes Governing Board

Bertil Andersson – Welcome Remarks and Opening Address

President, Nanyang Technological University

Jan Wouter Vasbinder (Chair)

Member, Para Limes Governing Board

Atsushi Iriki

Senior Team Leader at RIKEN Brain Science Institute; Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University

Cheryl Abundo (Chair)

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Balázs Gulyás

Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University & Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Cheong Siew Ann (Chair)

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Luciano Pietronero

Full Professor of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Associated to the Institute of Complex Systems, CNR, Rome

Andrea Nanetti (Chair)

School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University

Roland Fletcher

Professor of Theoretical and World Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia

Kevin Xiao (Chair)

School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

David Christian

Director of Big History Institute and Distinguished Professor in History, Department of Modern History, Macquarie University, Sydney

J. Stephen Lansing (Chair)

Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University

Sander van der Leeuw

Foundation Professor, School of Human Evolution & Social Change & School of Sustainability, Co-Chair, Complex Adaptive Systems at Arizona State University

Kevin Xiao (Chair)

School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Tim Hunt

Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2001, Cancer Research UK

Michael Walsh (Chair)

School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University

Tor Nørretranders

Writer, Visiting Scientist at Nanyang Technological University

Jonathan Sim (Chair)

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

W. Brian Arthur

External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute

Luo Shenshen (Chair)

School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University

Ben Shedd

Professor, Digital Filmmaking, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University; Academy Award Winning Science Filmmaker

Chew Lock Yue (Chair)

School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University

Stefan Thurner

Professor at Medical University of Vienna, Section for Science of Complex Systems

Su Haibin (Chair)

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University

Ada Yonath

Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2009, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel

Jan Wouter Vasbinder – Closing Remarks

Member, Para Limes Governing Board

 

Date: 2 – 4 March 2015

Venue: Nanyang Executive Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Address: 60 Nanyang View, Singapore 639673

 

Synopsis

The conference Emerging Patterns is about complex systems. ​It is about the one property that is distinct to all [1] : Emergence, roughly described by the common phrase: “The action of the whole is more than the sum of the actions of the parts”. ​Emerging patterns is also about one of the unifying goals of the 21st century science: “Understanding emergent behavior in its many different guises” [2]. ​As David Pines, one of the founders of the Santa Fe Institute wrote on occasion of its 30th anniversary: “Understanding such behavior requires a focus on the emergent properties that characterize the system as a whole and a search for their origin. It means identifying emergent collective patterns and regularities through experiment or observation, and then devising models that embody candidate collective organizing concepts and principles that might explain them”. ​Examples of emergent behavior are everywhere around us, from birds flocking, fireflies synchronizing, ants colonizing, people urbanizing, individuals self-organizing into neighborhoods, cultures evolving – all with no leaders or social control-, to the Big Bang, the formation of galaxies and stars and planets, the unfolding of history and future, the evolution of life on earth from its origins until now, the folding of proteins, the assembly of cells, the superconductivity of electrons in some metals, the evolution of technologies and their impact on society, the changing global climate or the development of consciousness in an infant. ​The twelve speakers of the conference will address such examples. All speakers are leaders in their field and will give meaning to complexity and its emerging patterns from the perspective of their interests and background. ​They are uniquely qualified to address these issues, and to hear them share their insights in complexity and partake in their discussions will be a great experience for all participants to the conference. The setting of the conference is informal. After each talk there will be ample time for the audience and the speakers to discuss and meet. ​This is the fourth conference in what by now has become an annual NTU event, that is widely recognized as unique in South East Asia, in which some of the best scientists and thinkers in the area of complexity will share their views with you. It is also the first conference organized under the auspices of Para Limes, the successor of the complexity program. ​Para Limes alludes to a world beyond boundaries and that is where Para Limes will position its explorations. Emerging Patterns is the first of such explorations. ​We warmly invite you to actively take part in it. ______________________________________ 1 John H. Holland (2014), Complexity, a very short introduction, Oxford University Press 2 Davis Pines (2014), Emergence, a unifying theme for 21st century science, SF@30 Foundations and Frontiers   [Programme]  

Videos & Presentation Slides

​​​​​​​​​​Welcome remarks and opening address by Jan W. Vasbinder (Director, Para Limes, Nanyang Technological University) and Bertil Andersson (President, Nanyang Technological University) ~~~~ Chair: Jan W. Vasbinder Para Limes, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Atsushi Iriki Senior Team Leader at RIKEN Brain Science Institute; Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University Biography & Abstract │ Presentation ~~~~ Chair: Cheryl Abundo School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Balázs Gulyás Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University & Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Biography & Abstract Presentation ~~~~ Chair: Cheong Siew Ann School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Luciano Pietronero Full Professor of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Associated to the Institute of Complex Systems, CNR, Rome Biography & Abstract │ Presentation ~~~~ Chair: Andrea Nanetti School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Roland Fletcher Professor of Theoretical and World Archaeology, University of Sydney, Australia Biography & AbstractPresentation ~~~~ Chair: Kevin Xiao School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: David Christian Director of Big History Institute and Distinguished Professor in History, Department of Modern History, Macquarie University, Sydney Biography & Abstract │ Presentation ~~~~ Chair: J. Stephen Lansing Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Sander van der Leeuw Foundation Professor, School of Human Evolution & Social Change & School of Sustainability, Co-Chair, Complex Adaptive Systems at Arizona State University Biography & Abstract │ Presentation ~~~~ Chair: Daniela Rhodes School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Tim Hunt Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine 2001, Cancer Research UK Biography & AbstractPresentation ~~~~ Chair: Michael Walsh School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Tor Nørretranders Writer, Visiting Scientist at Nanyang Technological University Biography & Abstract │ Presentation ~~~~ Chair: Jonathan Sim College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: W. Brian Arthur External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute Biography & AbstractPresentation ~~~~ Chair: Luo Shenshen School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Ben Shedd Professor, Digital Filmmaking, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University; Academy Award Winning Science Filmmaker Biography & Abstract ~~~~ Chair: Chew Lock Yue School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Stefan Thurner Professor at Medical University of Vienna, Section for Science of Complex Systems Biography & AbstractPresentation ~~~~ Chair: Su Haibin School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University Biography Speaker: Ada Yonath Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2009, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot, Israel Biography & Abstract ~~~~ Closing remarks by Jan W. Vasbinder Director, Para Limes, Nanyang Technological University