May 2011 Archives
Last week in Nature there was a very illuminating paper, called "Controllability of complex networks" by Liu, Slotine and -- particularly -- Barabasi.
Albert-Laszlo Barabasi has been in the complexity field for many years, and has brought illumination to many areas, from engineering and natural systems like ecology to complex social systems. (He also writes compellingly good books for the non-scientist.)
The idea of 'controlling complex systems' seems much too general to do any real mathematics with, but the authors of the Nature paper show very clearly that
I have been wondering if technology is helping us, or not. A colleague told me that using email during the day equates to about a 10 point reduction in IQ, because of the interruption and change of focus and reduced concentration time - and whilst I can't find the source to back this up, it wouldn't surprise me. Now, whether it's actually true for a younger generation, more used to technological multi-tasking, is another issue, but it's certainly an indication that technology causes problems as well as solving them.
Science authors
Kate Cooper - New Optimists founder
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Russell Beale - Professor of Human-Computer Interaction, University of Birmingham
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Roslyn Bill - Reader in Molecular Biosciences & Director of the Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing
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Jack Cohen - Science of Discworld author, retired reproductive biologist, Hon Prof at the Maths Institute, University of Warwick
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Jon Frampton - Director of Research and Professor of Stem Cell Biology, University of Birmingham
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Alison Murray - Former postdoc biochemist, then TV producer and science writer
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James Tucker - Reader in Supramolecular Chemistry, University of Birmingham
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Kenny Webster - Resident Scientist at Thinktank Birmingham
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Craig Jackson - Professor of Workplace Health Psychology and Head of the Psychology Dept at BCU
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Miriam Gifford - A researcher in plant science in the School of Life Sciences & the Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick
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Lucy Harper - Communications manager at the Society for Applied Microbiology
Chris Dyke - MedilinkWM Director driving collaboration between science and industry to develop innovative healthcare
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