The EmergeNET: Towards a Unifying Investigation in Emergence, Emergent Phenomena and Complexity
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Architectural Studies
Abstract
The very definition of complexity and emergence is itself a non-trivial problem. Complexity refers to situations where many simple interacting parts produce an unexpected collective behaviour. This calls for another imprecise concept that is emergence. Complex systems can display the emergence of properties at the macroscopic level that are not found at the microscopic level. One important example of emergence is self-organization. Self-organisation occurs as parts of a complex adaptive system, such as oil molecules in a thin layer, self-organise to form patterns in a state that is statistically stable. The basic mechanism for self organisation comes from feedback. Each part can communicate with its neighbours and arrange into a common collective behaviour. Sometimes, regardless the precise dynamics of the interactions, the evolution of the system is represented by some statistically stable state. This means that this steady state is an 'attractor' in the phase space for the system dynamics and accounts for the robustness of complex systems with respect to external perturbation. The Properties of a complex physical system are emergent just in case they are neither (i) properties had by any parts of the system taken in isolation nor (ii) resultant of a mere summation of properties of parts of the system. The above definition of emergence shows how this process may apply to many systems across all length scales and complexity scales. However, when one moves from physical to social, medical, or even artificial systems, the ability to spot and work with / around this concept becomes more important.Further, the ability to spot emergent entities occurring in very different situations would seem to be vital to allow this concept to grow and be developed. A substantial trans-disciplinary theory of emergence would greatly contribute to the development of a broader application and understanding of complexity science. The EPSRC IDEAS Factory on emergence tackled all of these issues, resulting in a number of funded projects. In order to maintain good communication between those involved in the projects, to further address the outcomes of the sandpit, and to encourage interdisplinary communication surrounding complexity and emergence, a network to cover emergence across disciplines is required.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Cristina Cerulli (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bell, S.
(2012)
Emerging Community Food Production And Pathways For Urban Landscape Transitions
in Emergence: Complexity &Organization An International Transdisciplinary Journal of Complex Social Systems
Vardy S
(2009)
Spatial agency: tactics of self-organisation
in Architectural Research Quarterly
Description | The very definition of complexity and emergence is itself a non-trivial problem. Complexity refers to situations where many simple interacting parts produce an unexpected collective behaviour. This calls for another imprecise concept that is emergence. Complex systems can display the emergence of properties at the macroscopic level that are not found at the microscopic level. One important example of emergence is self-organization. Self-organisation occurs as parts of a complex adaptive system, such as oil molecules in a thin layer, self-organise to form patterns in a state that is statistically stable. The basic mechanism for self organisation comes from feedback. Each part can communicate with its neighbours and arrange into a common collective behaviour. Sometimes, regardless the precise dynamics of the interactions, the evolution of the system is represented by some statistically stable state. This means that this steady state is an 'attractor' in the phase space for the system dynamics and accounts for the robustness of complex systems with respect to external perturbation. "The Properties of a complex physical system are emergent just in case they are neither (i) properties had by any parts of the system taken in isolation nor (ii) resultant of a mere summation of properties of parts of the system." The above definition of emergence shows how this process may apply to many systems across all length scales and complexity scales. However, when one moves from physical to social, medical, or even artificial systems, the ability to spot and work with / around this concept becomes more important. Further, the ability to spot emergent entities occurring in very different situations would seem to be vital to allow this concept to grow and be developed. "A substantial trans-disciplinary theory of emergence would greatly contribute to the development of a broader application and understanding of complexity science." The EmergeNET network was funded following the The EPSRC IDEAS Factory on Emergence, which tackled all of these issues and resulted in a number of funded projects. The need for a network to cover emergence across disciplines became apparent during the sandpit and led to the allocation of funding to support it. The EmergeNET network proved to be a useful device to engage a wider number of researchers in the transdisciplinary discourse around Emergence, but also to create a synergy amongst all the project funded through the EPSRC IDEAS Factory on Emergence. EmergeNET events facilitated the mantaining of good communication between those involved in the projects, to further address the outcomes of the sandpit, and to encourage interdisplinary communication surrounding complexity and emergence. Furthermore EmergeNET events opened up the work carried out within each of the projects funded byt the EPSRC IDEAS Factory on Emergence to a much wider, international, research community, creating the conditions for exchanges and further research developments. |
Exploitation Route | The network created a truly multidisciplinary forum to share ideas. The conversations within the network shaped the respective disciplinary discourses and might have facilitated new collaborations. |
Sectors | Chemicals Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Energy Environment Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Collaboration with 'The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies' project, funded under the Emergence Sandpit. EP/E062083/1 (Winfield, Sutcliffe, Griffith, |
Organisation | Abertay University |
Department | School of Arts Media and Computer Games |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I created opportunities for exchanges and project updates and contributed with built environment expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | They shared ongoing research progress and contributed to discourse development around Emergence. |
Impact | Conference presentations at EmergeNET events. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Collaboration with 'The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies' project, funded under the Emergence Sandpit. EP/E062083/1 (Winfield, Sutcliffe, Griffith, |
Organisation | Bristol Robotics Laboratory |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I created opportunities for exchanges and project updates and contributed with built environment expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | They shared ongoing research progress and contributed to discourse development around Emergence. |
Impact | Conference presentations at EmergeNET events. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Collaboration with 'The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies' project, funded under the Emergence Sandpit. EP/E062083/1 (Winfield, Sutcliffe, Griffith, |
Organisation | Leeds Beckett University |
Department | Faculty of Arts, Environment & Technology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I created opportunities for exchanges and project updates and contributed with built environment expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | They shared ongoing research progress and contributed to discourse development around Emergence. |
Impact | Conference presentations at EmergeNET events. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Collaboration with 'The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies' project, funded under the Emergence Sandpit. EP/E062083/1 (Winfield, Sutcliffe, Griffith, |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Department | Manchester Business School |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I created opportunities for exchanges and project updates and contributed with built environment expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | They shared ongoing research progress and contributed to discourse development around Emergence. |
Impact | Conference presentations at EmergeNET events. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Collaboration with 'The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies' project, funded under the Emergence Sandpit. EP/E062083/1 (Winfield, Sutcliffe, Griffith, |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Department | Warwick Medical School |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I created opportunities for exchanges and project updates and contributed with built environment expertise. |
Collaborator Contribution | They shared ongoing research progress and contributed to discourse development around Emergence. |
Impact | Conference presentations at EmergeNET events. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | This project was set up as three related Grants: EP/E062814/1 (Croning and Mancy), EP/E061850/1 (Maraly), EP/E061931/1 (Cerulli). We operated as an interdisciplinary consortium and cooperated on joint multidisciplinaryactivities. |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | Chemistry, Interdisciplinary Learning Education Technology and Society |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My key contribution to this research consortium was an expertise in issues relating to complexity within the built environment. |
Collaborator Contribution | Each partner contributed with their disciplinary perspectives and and to the day to day managing of the project delivery. |
Impact | The key outputs of the collaboration were three international multidisciplinary conferences that we co-organised. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | This project was set up as three related Grants: EP/E062814/1 (Croning and Mancy), EP/E061850/1 (Maraly), EP/E061931/1 (Cerulli). We operated as an interdisciplinary consortium and cooperated on joint multidisciplinaryactivities. |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Department | Management |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My key contribution to this research consortium was an expertise in issues relating to complexity within the built environment. |
Collaborator Contribution | Each partner contributed with their disciplinary perspectives and and to the day to day managing of the project delivery. |
Impact | The key outputs of the collaboration were three international multidisciplinary conferences that we co-organised. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | EmergeNET1 _ 1st International Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | International conference with a general focuse on multidisciplinary understandings of Emergence. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | EmergeNET2 _ 2nd International Conference - Warwick |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | International conference with a general focus on Complexity and Evolution. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | EmergeNET3 _ 3rd International Conference, York |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | International conference with a general focus on Engineering Emergence |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | EmergeNET4 _ 4th International Conference, Glasgow |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | International conference with a general focus on emerging Chirality |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |