The Age of Networks: Social, Cultural and Technological Connections

The Center for Advanced Study’s interdisciplinary initiative for academic year 2005-06 examines the workings of networks across the sciences, arts, and humanities. This project draws on scholarship in computer science, humanities, engineering, life sciences, law, organizational sciences and social sciences in order to take an in-depth look at socio-technical networks and theories for self-generating, self-organizing networks. It will undoubtedly reveal many ironies, ambiguities, and contradictions — precisely those shifting areas where we are likely to discover basic human and societal values.

This initiative is supported by: Beckman Institute; Center for Advanced Study; College of Business; College of Law; College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; College of Medicine; Department of Anthropology; Department of Sociology; Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities; Neuroscience Program; Office of the Chancellor; Program in Science, Technology, Information and Medicine; Women and Gender in Global Perspectives Program