Bi381 
Introduction
to Complex Systems
An honors interdisciplinary course in the Sciences
Synthesis and Applications/Integraions
Instructor: Dr. David Oline E-mail: olined@sou.edu
Southern
Returning
Winter 2009
Fractals
The Mandelbrot
Set Viewer for Windows: Download here
Zooming in on the Koch Snowflake – there’s always more detail to see!
Animation created by Jim Loy.
A good example of the box counting method on another large-scale fractal
structure – a galaxy
A supplement to the coastline lab – practice the
box-counting method online
Self-Organized Criticality
Sandpiles and self-organized criticality
Self-organized criticality in drainage
landscape formation
The virtual sandpile A fun applet which simulates the
dynamics of a sandpile
Modeling Links
The NetLogo
Models Library Page
Chaos
The Lorenz
Attractor Applet – 3 simple equations that produce complex unpredictable
behavior
What is Chaos? An
excellent introductory presentation (warning – a 1.6 MB PDF file)
An Introduction to Chaos
Theory and Fractal Geometry A good intro that provides some links
between chaos and fractals
Cellular Automata
The Game of Life – Java
applet implementing John Conway’s original Game of Life
Download “Life in the Fast Lane” – the ultimate Game of Life program
Cellebration! – a
versatile online cellular automata program
Download
CELLAB – an even more versatile cellular automata program, as seen
in class
Complex Systems, Chaos, Fractals –
General Links Pages
Open, Dissipative Systems,
and Entropy
Networks
A java applet of
Kauffman’s NK Boolean networks
Stuart Kauffman’s Scientific
American article from 1991. “Anti-chaos” is an early (poorly
chosen, perhaps) term he used
for what we now call “Complex” behavior.
Another introduction to Kauffman’s NK
Boolean networks
The Discrete Dynamics
Laboratory – visualizations of attractor basins from complex networks
Correlated Fitness Landscapes
An
introduction to fitness landscapes and diversification from Klaus Saul
A wide ranging covering genetic
and technological diversification on rugged fitness landscapes from Thomas Berngruber
(warning – a huge Power Point file!)
Agent-Based Modeling
The StarLogo
Home Page – Downloads, examples, and more
Journals: