Network Theory
From COSNet
Contents |
Synopsis
There are a number of people who are starting to interact on Network Theory. We have discovered that there are commonalities in our work and that we could benefit substantially by increasing our level of interaction through a Working Group.
What is network Theory?
Network theory concerns properties that arise in systems of many objects linked together. It is central to understanding and managing complexity because many features of the systems arise from their underlying network structure, rather than specifics of the objects and interactions. Key ideas include: connectivity, criticality, loops and cycles, modularity, trees and hierarchies; as well as, small world and scale-free behaviour. The universal nature of networks means that there are potential applications to many natural and artificial systems. Examples include communication networks, control systems, food webs, gene regulatory networks, disease spread and epidemics, neural networks, and social systems.
Network theory crosses disciple boundaries. It is applied in entomology, ecosystems, data security and social networks. Methods are drawn from psychology, physics, mathematics and computer science. This project will help unlock techniques and applications made inaccessible by differences in terminologies and assumptions.
The Network Theory Working Group
A network theory working group has been established with the purpose of
- Establishing shared understandings about network theory and its application
- Efficiently sharing concepts and tools from different fields of network research
- Identifying gaps in expertise/knowledge
- To target external researchers to lead interaction exercises and build capacity
- Discussing new projects/proposals amongst a wide range of disciplines
Some of the key activities that we propose to work on during the meetings are :
- Developing a position paper on Network structure, function and dynamics
- Developing a framework for categorising and structuring concepts of network theory from diverse disciplines and exploring the potential for cross fertilisation
- Specifications for a toolkit for analysis of network structures
Supporting for the Network Theory Working Group are three Universities Charles Sturt University (via Dr David Newth – now with CSIRO ), Monash University (via Professor David G. Green) and Melbourne University (via Prof. Pip Pattison).
The first meeting of the Working Group is in Canberra on May 4-5.
Linkages
This proposal would build on the CSIRO Complex Systems training and education project “Options for Complex Systems Modelling for natural resource “ (Walker) in which some 8 papers and training modules on methods have been produced.This Working Group will form part of the COSNet ARC Research Network if funded.
Principal Investigator(s):
Paul Walker
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
Ph 092 6242 1697
Email : paul.walker@csiro.au
