Interdisciplinary Center for Dynamics of Complex Systems

The Center was established in 1994 by the Senate of the University of Potsdam. It is directly responsible to the Senate of the University of Potsdam. The goal of the Center for Dynamics of Complex Systems is to further interdisciplinary research and teaching in the field of Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems.

We study in interdisciplinary collaboration the behavior of complex systems using methods of nonlinear dynamics and statistical physics. Beyond the development of new methods, we focus on applications of the theoretical results in a variety of different areas of physics and life. Now the center has become one of the top centers on nonlinear and complex systems in Europa and in the world. The main directions of the center are

A)

Complex systems theory

B)

Nonlinear processes in geosciences and astrophysics

C)

Computational neuroscience

D)

Bioinformatics and systems biology

The Center puts its emphasis on organization of scientific cooperation in interdisciplinary research. Its activity also includes distribution of funds and creation of new projects. The Interdisciplinary Center for Dynamics of Complex Systems uses the resources of these departments to achieve synergy effects.

a)

Interdisciplinary Research Projects

• Innovationskolleg `` Formale Modelle kognitiver Komplexität'' (DFG)
• DFG-Forschergruppe: ``Konfligierende Regeln und Strategien zur Resolution von Konflikten in der Kognitionswissenschaft''
• SFB 555 ``Komplexe nichtlineare Prozesse - Analyse, Simulation, Steuerung und Optimierung'' (DFG)
• EU Research Training Network ``Control and Synchronization of Spatially Extended Nonlinear Systems''
• DFG - Priority Programme 1114 ``Mathematische Methoden der Zeitreihenanalyse und digitalen Bildverarbeitung''
• COST Action Advanced Methods for the Estimation of Human Brain Activity and Connectivity (NEUROMATH) (EU)
• BMBF-Project zur Systembiologie FORSYS
• EU-Network of Excellence BIOSIM: Biosimulation - A New Tool in Drug Development
• Graduate training programme Shaping Earth's Surface in a Variable Environment Interactions between tectonics, climate and biosphere in the African-Asian monsoonal region

b)

International Graduate Schools:

• International Graduate School for Computational Neuroscience of Behavioral and Cognitive Dynamics (Helmholtz Center for Mind and Brain Dynamics, http://www.helmholtz-center.agnld.uni-potsdam.de)
• International Max-Planck-Research-School on Biomimetic Systems
  (http://www.imprs.org/courses.html)
• Annual summer-schools of the Helmholtz Institute for Super-computational Physics (part of the center)
  • 2001: Tools to Simulate Turbulence on Supercomputers
  • 2002: Scientific Supercomputing in Climate Research
  • 2003: Chaos and Stability in Planetary Systems (5 applicants for every position)
  • 2004: Computational Fluid Mechanics
  • 2005: Complex Networks in Brain Dynamics
  • 2006: Super-computational Cosmology

The researchers of center have access to high level software tools like Matlab, IDL and Mathematica. The scientific library holds the main journals in the relevant fields. The electronic versions of these journals are available online. The center frequently hosts highly qualified researchers from worldwide coming for a short visit to give lectures and to exchange expertise.

Currently the Center for Dynamics of Complex Systems has almost 50 members from different university departments (biology, chemistry, general linguistics, geosciences, informatics, mathematics, physics, psychology) and research institutes located in Potsdam (Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert-Einstein-Institut), GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ, Germany's National Research Centre for Geosciences), Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Astrophysical Institute Potsdam (AIP).