Zengru DI (Beijing Normal University, China)

Title: Understanding Science by Network Analysis

Abstract: As many high quality scientific publication databases, such as the American Physical Society, Scopus, the arXiv and ISI web of Knowledge, have become increasingly accessible in recent years, researchers realized that the data should be interpreted from the perspective of complex systems with multiple and evolving interactions between components (e.g. papers, authors, research fields). Using approaches from complex networks and statistical physics, many emergent phenomena have been identified. Examples include the spatial-temporal patterns of researchers’ mobility and collaboration, the universal distribution of paper citation across different disciplines, and the collapse of the citation evolution of different papers, and so on. The main contribution of network analysis is to reveal the hidden rules and patterns in scientific research by building the linkage between different scales and dimensions of the system. The related methodologies will be not only valuable for practical use but also will inspire novel ideas and tools for network science.

Bio

Professor Zengru Di is now the Dean of the School of systems Science, Beijing Normal University. He is the Leader of Discipline Appraisal Group on Systems Science of the Academic Degree Committee of the State Council, People’s Republic of China (2009-present), Member of the Academic Degree Committee of Beijing Normal University, Vice President of the Systems Engineering Society of China. The research interests rely on the area of the Complex Networks, Self-organization Theory and its application in socio-economic and biological systems. The problems are focused on the structure and function of complex networks, collective behavior of multi-agent systems, and the emergent properties of complex systems. Professor Zengru Di is editor in chief or editor of several academic journal, including All About Systems and Control (in Chinese), Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, Journal of Systems Science and Information, Systems Engineering-Theory & Practice (in Chinese) and so on.

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Canh-Hao NGUYEN (Kyoto University, Japan)

Title: Structured Learning for Biomedical Domain

Abstract: Biological domain has been blessed with more and more data from biotechnologies as well as data integration tools. In the renaissance of machine learning and artificial intelligence, there is so much promise of data-driven biological knowledge discovery. However, it is not straight forward due to the complexity of the domain knowledge hidden in the data. At any level, be it atom, molecule, cell or organism, there are rich interdependencies among biological components. Machine learning approaches in this domain usually involves analyzing interdependency structures encoded in graphs and related formalisms. In this talk, we will introduce different problems and solutions to the learning problem with structured inputs at different levels. We first will describe learning on graph problems for biological network analysis. The second part will cover the learning problem with structured input data for bio-chemical applications.

Bio

Dr. Canh Hao Nguyen got his bachelor degree from UNSW, Australia in Computer Science, PhD from JAIST, Japan. He is now an assistant professor of Bioinformatics Center, Kyoto University. His research has always been in Machine Learning methodologies. At Bioinformatics Center, he has a chance to apply Machine Learning techniques to biological, chemical, pharmaceutical and medical data. His main interests are in the area of Machine Learning and Network Analysis to discover meaningful structures in the application domain.

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Takashi HASHIMOTO (Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan)

Title: Emergent Constructive Approach to Evolinguistics: Considering Hierarchy and Intention Sharing in Linguistic Communication

Abstract: Evolinguitics is an enterprise to clarify the dynamics and mechanisms of origins and evolution of language, thereby, deepening our understanding of humans from an evolutionary perspective. The origin of language is characterized by the biological evolution of abilities related to language and communication, and the evolution of language by the structuralization and complexification of language knowledge as well as communication systems through cultural evolution. In Evolinguistics, two idiosyncrasies of human linguistic communication are the primary focus, namely, using hierarchically organized symbol sequences in language and sharing intentions in symbolic communication. We believe that the integration of these two characteristics made humans co-creative and smart, especially, gave us knowledge co-creation capacity. The emergent constructive approach plays an important role in this research, which is a methodology to analyze complex systems by constructing and operating the evolutionary and emergent process of complex phenomena. In this talk, I will introduce two studies taking this approach. One is an evolutionary simulation of recursive combination which is thought of as the essential ability to form hierarchical structures. The other is a language evolution experiment in a laboratory to consider the process, mechanisms, and a neural basis of symbolic communication systems. After showing findings from these two studies, each related to hierarchy and intention sharing, respectively, I will discuss how these findings can be integrated to understand the evolution of our linguistic communication.

Bio

Dr. Takashi Hashimoto is a Professor at School of Knowledge Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), and now a director of the Area of Knowledge Management in JAIST. He was given his Ph.D. degree in 1996 from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the University of Tokyo. He has been studying the origin and evolution of language, the dynamics of communication, and the design of social institution from the viewpoint of complex systems, with pursuing to construct a scientific field called "knowledge science" for creation, sharing, and utilization of knowledge. He is a fellow of Virtual Center for Advanced Studies in Institution (VCASI) and a board member of Human Behavior and Evolution Society – Japan, and Japan Society for Evolutionary Economic. He is an associate editor of Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review and Cognitive Systems Research.

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Nam NGUYEN (Malik Management Institute, Australia)

Title: Malik Ecopolicy and Sensitivity Model – a Cybernetic Simulation ‘Game’ for Learning about Systems Thinking and a Systems Tool for Dealing with Complex Problems

Abstract: Despite many efforts to deal with the various complex issues facing our societies, plans and problem solutions are seldom long lasting, because we, as individuals, and our leaders are most likely to fall into the trap of using traditional linear and separate thinking. It is natural and easy but does not usually deliver long-term solutions in the context of highly complex modern communities and societies. There is an urgent need for innovative ways of thinking and a fresh approach for dealing with the unprecedented and complex challenges facing our world. It is essential for current and future leaders and citizens to be prepared for systems thinking to deal with complex problems in a systemic, integrated and collaborative fashion; working together to deal with issues holistically, rather than simplistically focusing on isolated/separate features of a system. A revolutionary educational tool (Ecopolicy) has been used as the main mechanism to achieve this aim. Furthermore, the Sensitivity Model (‘engine’ of Ecopolicy) is used as a systems tool to identify systemic solutions for addressing complex problems in various areas, organisations, businesses, etc. This presentation shares the experience and applications of Ecopolicy in a number of countries (Germany, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, etc.), as well as the applications of SensiMod in different projects. The presentation concludes with having an interactive, fun and hands-on Ecopolicy ‘play’ for the audience.

Bio

Dr. Nam Nguyen is Director Australia & Southeast Asia at the Malik Institute in Switzerland (based in Adelaide, Australia).
Nam grew up to be a farmer in the Vietnam’s country side, but moved to Australia and built a globally recognised and awarded reputation in systems thinking and complexity management. He has received a number of nationally and internationally awards, as well as competitive academic fellowships and research grants. Nam is also a recipient of the prestigious Davos Australian Leadership Award for being at the forefront of his chosen field - systems thinking and complexity management; an honorary Visiting Research Fellow in the University of Adelaide Business School; a member of the Governing Council of Glenunga International High School; a former member of the Scientific Board of the Business Systems Laboratory, Italy; a Vice President (2012-13; 2015-17) of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) and a Vice President (2014-16; 2018-20) of the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR).
Nam has presented as a keynote speaker at various national and international conferences and events; and has so far contributed to the knowledge base of his research fields by authoring/co-authoring more than 80 refereed publications.
Nam designs and delivers MBA, executive and customized training programs (for various organisations globally) in systems thinking, complexity management and the unique Malik Management Systems®; and his consulting projects vary from organisational growth and transformation, city development to systems design and complexity management, etc.