Chaos and complexity in nature

April 8, 2014Byens Lys Copenhagen
Chaos
Doors open: 19:00
Start programme: 20:00
Byens Lys
Fabriksområdet 99
Copenhagen

How can simple models give complex patterns? Are chaos and fractals redundant in Nature? What is chaos? What are fractals? Do models of life show chaotic behaviour? What do stock market quotes have in common with boiling water? How can we use Twitter to understand complexity?

The 'Chaos Revolution' in the 1980's told us that simple non-linear physical systems might give rise to very complex and often beautiful patterns in nature. The innocent clap of the wings of a butterfly can lead to catastrophic weather conditions.

Mogens Jensen will give examples of such beautiful patterns which are found all around us, such as in ice-crystals, plants, clouds, flows in oceans, etc. These patters are often fractals and we find a close relation between chaos and fractals. These ideas also play a dominant roles in the biological world where complex patterns also arise, say in bacterial colonies. Even quotes of stocks in the financial markets show complex behaviour we can describe by theories of complexity.

Later, chaotic cocktails and Skjorte og Slips playing surf music.

Photo: Creative Commons | Asturnut (butterfly), Creative Commons | Hellisp (attractors)

Chaos

Mogens Jensen

Chaos and complexity in nature

How can simple models give complex patterns? Are chaos and fractals redundant in Nature? What is chaos? What are fractals? Do models of life show chaotic behaviour? What do stock market quotes have in common with boiling water? How can we use Twitter to understand complexity?

Talk by

Mogens Jensen

Professor of Complex Systems and Biophysics at the Niels Bohr Institute. Head of BioNET and Co-Director of the Center for Models of Life. His main research interests consist of studying complex phenomena in Nature, in particular chaos and fractals in non-linear systems. He has been awarded the prestigious Gunnar Randers Physics Prize of Norwegian Science.

MHJ10

Music by

Skjorte og Slips

The two sweaty partners from the organ band "The Organheimers" bring drums and organ down the ditch where the surf sweats, where go go girls, whisky and a gravy filled tie is the norm.

Skjorteog Slips