About Us
The Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC) focuses on computational study of the evolution of knowledge, innovation and society. DySoC members and affiliates use methods of computational social science, cultural evolution, social psychology, anthropology, artificial intelligence and information science.
DySoC brings together researchers, students, and international collaborators to explore the frontiers of computational social science, cultural evolution, and the dynamics of scientific change.
Webinars featuring international speakers are scheduled for Spring 2025, followed by a full schedule of seminars and workshops in the 2025–2026 academic year. DySoC has welcomed new members and strengthened partnerships with Advai Ltd. (UK), RAND, Florida International University, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and Durham University (UK). Ongoing DySoC-affiliated projects include:
- Scaling of innovation in U.S. cities (Barcelona–UTK collaboration).
- AI model collapse in population-scale text (with Advai Ltd., London).
- Cultural values and geopolitical opinion shifts in post-Soviet republics.
DySoC unites members, students, and international collaborators under three primary research themes:
Computational Social Science
This theme focuses on identifying coherent patterns in complex, large-scale human behavioral data. In highly interconnected domains such as public health, socio-economic change, and environmental challenges, computational approaches provide crucial insights. These societal challenges are rapidly evolving, characterized by ephemeral, indirect, conflicting, and interdependent evidence. DySoC’s research in this area aims to develop tools and frameworks to better understand and respond to these dynamic changes.
Cultural Evolution
This field examines the co-evolution of human cognition, culture, and societies. It seeks to uncover fundamental mechanisms of cooperation and conflict across time, from ancient civilizations to contemporary societies, and even the emerging influence of new technologies and media. DySoC’s research delves into these processes to gain a deeper understanding of social change across different eras.
The Social Complexity of Science
This theme explores how scientific innovation emerges within an ever-growing body of knowledge, extending into broader social networks and cultures. DySoC investigates how scientific knowledge flows across nations and institutions and how misinformation, particularly driven by AI, affects public trust in science, civic values, and global narratives.