Emergence at all scales
A national program on “Emergence at all scales” (EAAS) has just been awarded by NWO as part of their Research on Routes by Consortia (ORC) program line of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). This interdisciplinary consortium explores the many cases of emergence in the natural sciences and in mathematics. Some of the fundamental questions that will be addressed by the consortium include:
- the quest to understand how space, time, gravity and the universe seem to emerge from almost nothing;
- how matter at all scales organizes itself into different phases that exhibit myriad properties including those similar to living systems;
- mathematical insights into universal properties of emergence across physical systems – ranging from spectral theory through network analysis, to information theory and hydrodynamic limits – that provide a common language for emergent phenomena.
Beyond the natural sciences and mathematics, emergence is playing an increasingly central role in the social and economic sciences and has also inspired many sectors of society, including artists and the public at large. The consortium will engage with society in a variety of ways through citizen science, societally driven research, science-inspired art, science communication and education. Walter van Suijlekom (RU, and chair of the committee Research of PWN) is a member of the executive board, where he represents mathematics.
Science Communication call 2025
NWO is making one and a half million euros available for science communication projects that aim to strengthen the connection between science and society. Professionals from knowledge institutions, museums and other public research organisations can submit a proposal in this new round of the science communication call of the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday 25 February 2025, by 14:00:00 CET.