From production chugging along in factories, to brains perceiving reality, to ecosystems following seasonal cycles, we are accustomed to seeing complex systems in operation reliably and predictably. Little do we appreciate the coordinated role of individual system actors in this – specifically, individual system elements need to be available at the “right” place at the “right” time to play their designated roles in the overall “functioning” of complex systems. In this talk, I will demonstrate how sociotechnical and ecological complex systems can go haywire when spatiotemporal coordination breaks down, giving rise to emergent phenomena and, among others, critical transitions. I will conclude by exploring how buffering mechanisms can help us understand – and design for – robustness in complex systems. 

If you wish to attend this seminar online, please send an email to m.t.pham@uva.nl to receive the zoom-link.