The Humancurrent

In this episode, Haley talks with Yaneer Bar-Yam, President of the New England Complex Systems Institute, and Alexander Siegenfeld, a PhD physics student at MIT, about their collaborative research paper entitled: Negative Representation and Instability in Democratic Elections. They each discuss why the current political climate in the U.S. is so polarized and unstable and explore how low voter turnout leads to negative representation and further instability. Describing insights from their research, they share the importance of increasing voter turnout and weakening the two party system (through methods like ranked choice voting) in order to achieve a more stable democracy.

In this episode, Angie and Haley share their final four interviews recorded at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. These interviews include: Brad Glisson, co-founder of Thoughtblox; Liz Johnson, Managing Editor for the Journal on Policy and Complex Systems; Vinesh Raja, Bioinformatician and Software Engineer; Rhys Lindmark, podcaster and Head of Community and Long-Term Societal Impact at MIT Media Lab. Each of their stories weave together some of the shared values, ideas, and visions for the growing field of complex system science. And to wrap up this series on the conference, Haley and Rhys Lindmark talk about some their favorite highlights and share some key takeaways. (Episode cover image by JK Rofling.)

In this episode, Angie talks with Dr. Stephan Harding who is an ecologist, author and senior lecturer and founding member of Schumacher College. Dr. Harding discusses his passion for the Earth and why he believes so deeply in helping others feel more connected to our planet. He describes his role with Schumacher College and how the school offers unique learning experiences to help students connect with and learn from nature. Dr. Harding shares details about his Holistic Science course, which integrates complexity theory, Gaia theory and deep ecology. He also explores how more expansive approaches to science, which integrate diverse methods of inquiry (beyond reason), can help us better understand the implications of complex problems like climate change. Lastly, Dr. Harding talks about his book, Animate Earth: Science, Intuition and Gaia, in which he integrates science, poetry and meditative practices to inspire people to form a participatory relationship with nature.

In this episode, Angie and Haley share four interviews recorded at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. These interviews include: Javier Borondo, Research Scientist and CTO of AGrowingData; Rosa Benito, Physics Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Victor Dossetti, Research Scientist and Professor at Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla; Roozbeh Daneshvar, Blockchain Software Engineer at IBM. Each of the experiences they share highlight various research, applications, and opportunities in the field of complex system science. (Episode cover image by JK Rofling)

In this episode, Haley interviews theoretical biologist and author, Josh Mitteldorf, at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Mitteldorf talks about the evolutionary process, including gene sharing, cooperation, and natural selection. He also shares what inspired his book, Cracking the Aging Code, and why biology needs holism.

In this episode, Angie talks with Dr. Loren Demerath at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Dr. Demerath is an author, researcher, theorist of social complexity, and Professor of Sociology at the Centenary College of Louisiana. He discusses the fundamental nature of complex systems and how he applies concepts of complexity science to his research on culture, social interaction, and the emergence of order.

In this episode, Haley talks with Simon DeDeo at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. DeDeo is an Assistant Professor in Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University and External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute. He talks about his current research, which explores extreme creative people and events throughout history in order to learn where new ideas come from and what people do when they get them. Describing his research as “an alternate account of what it means to be human”, DeDeo explains that we are not infinitely predictable creatures, rather we harness extreme capacity to evolve and create. Professor DeDeo also shares more about his course and research at the Santa Fe Institute.

In this episode, Angie talks with network science researchers, Brennan Klein and Sarah Shugars, at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Both Klein and Shugars are network science PhD students at Northeastern University, but they share very different stories for why they decided to study network science and how they plan to approach and apply their research. (The image used in this episode cover is ©JK Rofling)

In this episode, Haley interviews Jose Mateos at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Mateos is a physicist and network researcher at the National University of Mexico. He is also on the Steering Committee for the Complex Systems Society, an international scientific community which organizes the annual Conference on Complex Systems (taking place this year from September 23-28 in Thessaloniki, Greece). Mateos talks with Haley about what makes conferences on complex systems so unique and important for solving real-world problems. He also describes his research on mobility within networks where he explores how things, like viruses and rumors, propagate within social networks.

In this episode, Angie talks with Irene Bosch and Elena Naumova at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Irene Bosch is a research scientist at MIT who works with Tropical diseases and viruses like Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Bosch discusses the lack of research and understanding around how diseases are diagnosed and spread. She also talks about the potential benefits of interdisciplinary collaborations in forecasting epidemics and bringing solutions for diagnostics. Bosch’s work colleague, Elena Naumova, a Mathematician and Director of the Tufts University Initiative for Forecasting and Modeling of Infectious Diseases, also talks with Angie about how she applies mathematical models to better understand different kinds of biological phenomenon.

In this episode, Haley talks with Dr. Daniel Stickler at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Dr. Stickler is a physician, author, speaker and the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of The Apeiron Center for Human Potential. During his interview, Dr. Stickler explains Apeiron’s systems-based model which focuses on human systems, homeostatic balance and optimization. He also discusses how and why lifestyle decisions are the key to creating an optimized life.

In this episode, Haley talks with Gad Saad at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Gad Saad is a Marketing Professor and evolutionary behavioral scientist. He is also author of The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Nature, which explores how evolutionary forces influence our daily lives as consumers. During his interview, Saad shares how elements of complexity theory apply to his research as a behavioral scientist. He also describes the challenges he faces when talking about evolutionary theory and behavioral science openly with the public.

In this episode, Haley and Angie introduce a special conversation between Gad Saad and Nassim Nicholas Taleb at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS). Gad Saad is an evolutionary behavioral scientist and Marketing professor at Concordia University and Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a best-selling author, probability researcher and former trader. During their quick and informal conversation, Gad and Nassim share details from their joint presentation at ICCS and some friendly remarks about each other’s research.    

In this episode, Haley interviews Stephen Wolfram at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems. Wolfram is the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha and the Wolfram Language; the author of A New Kind of Science; and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research. Wolfram talks with Haley about his professional journey and reflects on almost four decades of history, from his first introduction to the field of complexity science to the 30 year anniversary of Mathematica. He shares his hopes for the evolution of complexity science as a foundational field of study. He also gives advice for complexity researchers, recommending they focus on asking simple, foundational questions.

In this episode preview, we share a clip from our interview with Stephen Wolfram. Wolfram is the creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha and the Wolfram Language; the author of A New Kind of Science; and the founder and CEO of Wolfram Research. Wolfram shares with us his disappointment that the basic science of complexity has not been more explored. He states, “the great thing about the basic science is that it will survive forever”.  

It’s the 100th episode of the Human Current podcast! In this celebratory episode, Angie and Haley make a cheers to all the wonderful people who have supported the podcast’s mission, including cofounder Stacy Hale, Professor Yaneer Bar-Yam and community members of the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI). They also reminisce about their experience at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems (ICCS) and share two interviews from the event. The first interview they share is with Dr. Emma Towlson who is a Physics Professor at Northeastern University and a researcher in the Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR), with interests in the emerging field of Network Neuroscience. The second interview is with Richard Cooper, Ph.D, who is a NECSI board member and Maurits C. Boas Professor of International Economics at Harvard University.

In this episode, Haley interviews George Church, who is Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Health Science and Technology at MIT, as well as a co-author of 480 papers, 130 patent publications & the book Regenesis. Church talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about his presentation on the evolution of modern biotechnology and the implications of existential risk within this field. He also talks about the goals and mission of the BRAIN Initiative, which he co-initiated in 2011, as well as why he believes people should have access to their own genome.

In this episode, Haley interviews Boston College Professor Patrick McQuillan. McQuillan talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about his current work and expertise in education reform and urban school leadership. He shares why it is so important for school leaders to decentralize control and work toward a unified school culture. Professor McQuillan also describes “the thread of adaptive leadership” as a productive approach to systemic change.

In this episode, Haley interviews Natalia Komarova, Chancellor's Professor of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Komarova talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about her presentation, which explored using applied mathematics to study the spread of mutants, as well as the evolution of popular music.

In this episode, Haley interviews the Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System at Harvard Kennedy School, Carmen Reinhart. Reinhart talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about financial fragility and economic booms and busts. She also explains the profound complexity of financial crises describing them as black swan events which affect many systems connected to human wellbeing.