CPIN: Critical Phenomena In Networks

This symposium aims at progressing our understanding of, and knowledge about, critical phenomena in networks. How do classical percolation and renormalization theories apply to complex networks? How do the core findings (e.g., scale-free and small-world networks, community structure) of network science relate to critical phenomena? These days, much network data is temporal in nature (link streams). Is there a benefit in leveraging dynamic phase transition theory? Are complex networks attracted by critical points as in the theory of self-organized criticality? Other than physical systems, adaptive systems are functional and bear meaning, entailing theoretical questions. What can the meaning of criticality be in non-physical systems? What can the equivalent of temperature as a control parameter be?

Translating Philip W. Anderson, social networks are governed by the rules of biological networks but not just by those; biological networks are governed by the rules of chemical networks but not just by those; etc. According to this hierarchy, we can expect to find signals and meanings of criticality in the most complex systems. The symposium welcomes empirical and modeling contributions regarding all kinds of complex networks. Interdisciplinary exchange is stressed. Accordingly, contributors are asked to present their research in a way that listeners from different disciplines can follow. Sessions give room to discussions. We try to make this a symposium series to make sustained progress.