Army Research Laboratory Efforts in Complexity and Emergence

NOTE NEW LOCATION - 10TH FLOOR WEISER FLOOR

Abstract
The Army Research Laboratory has recently singled out basic research in Complexity and Emergence spanning the physical, biological, social, and engineering sciences as a one of a small set of future essential research areas. Inspiration to recognize this domain largely stems from both a plethora of advances in the scientific community as well as high-level Army strategy and policy. A recent report on Army Science Strategy and Planning describes how the Army must contend with problems wherein objectives and constraints evolve in unpredictable ways and how complexity arises from the increasing heterogeneity, connectivity, scale, dynamics, functionality and interdependence of networked elements. Leaning forward, the Army places priority on developing mathematical models for predicting non-equilibrium behavior of complex multi-scale systems that advance our understanding beyond statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics. After a brief but broad overview of the Army Research enterprise, the talk will discuss how the Complex Dynamics and Systems program at the Army Research Office is advancing this call in areas such as the emergent physics of animal locomotion, guided self-organization, and transdisciplinary efforts at the intersection of statistical mechanics and control theory. Highlights of several ongoing Laboratory research efforts will also be presented for potential collaborative efforts.

Light Refreshments will be served.

This special seminar will take place in the new event space - 10th floor Weiser Hall.