All day
Collections of networks are at the core of modern society, spanning technological, biological and social systems. In the past decade a “science of networks” has been
emerging, but it has focused largely on single networks treated in
isolation. In reality, individual networks often come together to
form a larger system of interdependent networks (i.e., networks of
networks). For instance communication networks rely on the power
grid, yet the power grid also relies on communication networks
(for transmission of data used to run control systems). Likewise, in
biological systems genetic regulatory and protein interaction
networks are interdependent (genes give rise to
proteins which
interact with other proteins which in-turn activate or inhibit other
genes). Social systems (economies and ecologies) are composed of
collections of overlapping and interdependent networks. Furthermore,
there is evidence that networks are becoming increasingly
interdependent, ranging from the globalization of business
enterprises and financial markets to the rise of collections of
online social networks (e.g., Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Orkut,
Linked-in) connecting people throughout the globe (relying on the
WWW, Internet, electric grids and transportation networks, while
at the same time enabling ideas and diseases to cascade). This
workshop will bring together a collection of scientists and engineers
studying interdependencies among different types of networks
studied from complementary perspectives. Correspondingly, these
individuals also bring to the discussion diverse data sets on which to
test theories we will develop. The goal is to identify and
understand the unforeseen consequences of interactions – changes
in network resilience and robustness, potential for increased
adaptability, increased likelihood of cascading failures, and
emergent properties such as the lowering of percolation thresholds –
as well as co-evolution of networks. We will bring together theorists
building mathematical models of interacting networks together with
practitioners possessing speci?c domain knowledge. Theorists will
leave the working group better equipped to develop realistic models and
practitioners will leave with enhanced understanding of emergent
properties in their systems, in particular how interactions can
enhance or alternately threaten their systems.