Center for the Study of Complex Systems

The Annual Complex Systems Nobel Symposium Join us December 10th to hear UM Faculty experts discuss the work, impact, and personalities of the 2021 Nobel Laureates

Complex Systems Animated Video! "What is LSA Complex Systems? What actually ARE complex systems?" Watch our new animated video explainer for answers!

Charlie Doering 1956–2021, In Memoriam. Click to read academic memoriam, family obituary and remembrances.

What do we do at CSCS? Our Center studies systems like economies, the brain, ecosystems, political systems, social networks, and the Internet that consist of many interacting parts, which in turn produce collective behaviors that exceed the capabilities of the constituent parts.

How an Applied Physics student became a Complex Systems Standout “I thought I would just be strictly physics. But then I learned about complex systems and was like, wait, the computer does what?! I thought it was so cool.”

I enjoyed the material so much I switched my career plans to continue my study of complex systems. I declared a Complex Systems minor as a sophomore to compliment my major in Mathematics. I wanted to supplement my pure methodological work with applications and interdisciplinarity. -- Daniel Kaiser, Class of 2019

Complex Systems: The Next Generation Our little unit has experienced a bit of a baby boom of late L-R Elizabeth Bruch's Nico; Charlie Doering's grandbaby Charles Arlo; and Marisa Eisenberg's CJ (Cassandra Josephine). A dose of cuteness to wish you all a Happy Holiday!

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Recent News

Chaos, technically.

Toddlers playing may appear ‘chaotic’ to us, but is it technically chaos? Complex Systems Fellow Mitchell Newberry explains chaos from a scientific perspective.

Mark Newman has been chosen as a 2021 Citation Laureate

The Science Citation Index annually chooses a small number of ‘Citation Laureates,’ an award that has in the past predicted Nobel prize winners with a lot of success. This year Mark Newman is one of three Citation Laureates for Physics!

all news

Complex Systems Science and Systemic Racism

A statement from The Complex Systems Faculty

"Here at the Center for the Study of Complex Systems, we stand in solidarity with these efforts toward greater social justice and vocally oppose all expressions of bigotry and hate."

CLICK to read the full statement.

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WELCOME TO THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS

The Center for the Study of Complex Systems (CSCS) is a broadly interdisciplinary program in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our mission is to encourage and facilitate research and education in the general area of nonlinear, dynamical and adaptive systems.

"What is Complexity Science" - the complex systems community, including members of CSCS have put together this great 'Complexity Explainer' on Github

CLICK TO WATCH THE COMPLEX SYSTEMS ANIMATED VIDEO EXPLAINER

"What IS Complex Systems"

Maybe you’ve seen the Center for the Study of Complex Systems at the University of Michgian and wondered ‘what ARE complex systems’? This animated video was prepared to provide a general explanation of the field of Complex Systems Science.

Oh, and we are a Center that is housed within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, that offers a Minor and a Graduate Certificate.

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We strive to support our students and faculty on the front lines of learning and research and to steward our planet, our community, our campus. To do this, the Center for the Study of Complex Systems needs your support.