Mathematics and Social Networks
M. A. Porter (University of Oxford)
Mathematicians, physicists, and computer scientists have made tremendous advances in the study of real-world networks in recent years using both computational and analytical techniques. This, in turn, has led to increased collaboration between these communities and social scientists. One important application area has been the study of social networks in politics, sports, criminal and terrorist groups, online settings such as Facebook and World of Warcraft, and more. Important topics in these investigations have included detection and dynamical evolution of communities and notions of hierarchical and modular structure. This minisymposium will include discussions of several of these important facets of modern social network research.