Welcome...

... to the website of the module Complex Systems in Biology that I will be teaching this winter (2021) at the Institute of Biology at Humboldt University. On this site you will find specific information about all components of this module, the Lectures, the Seminar and the Lab Course (Fachkurs).

Announcements will be made on this site and all resources, e.g. papers for the seminar, code that is being used in the lectures, lecture notes and slides will be made available here for download in the respective sections.

If you have further questions contact me.

What is this course about?

The aim of this module is providing a solid theoretical foundation for understanding complex dynamic phenomena in biological systems. The lecture will cover a number of basic theoretical modelling methods, analysis tools and techniques that are required to understand and appreciate the richness and beauty of complex biological systems. The lecture will also cover a number of specific applied topics, see below. In the seminar we will discuss selected recent publications, each presented by students, and each related to one of the topics listed below. In the lab course we will get a better understanding of all of these phenomena using computational techniques which will be taught in the course.

Topics include:

The course will cover various topics in complex systems research for example:

The links above take you to Complexity Explorables, a website that I developed and curate that hosts collection of interactive explorations that we will also use in class.

General Information

The module consists of the Lecture Introduction to Complex Systems, the Seminar Complex Systems in Biology and the Practical Course Computer Simulations and Modeling of Complex Systems. Information on each of these is available in the respective sections.

The module will provide an interdisciplinary perspective on complex dynamical phenomena in biological systems. A solid theoretical/modeling foundation will be provided as well as a number of applications to biological systems.

The module Complex Systems in Biology is part of the Masters Biophysics program and can count as a mandatory module (Pflichtmodul) in theoretical biophysics II or alternatively as an elective module (Wahlpflichtmodul) for the program.

Although the lecture notes and this website is maintained in English the module will be taught in German.

The Lecture

The lecture will provide an introduction to the theoretical foundation for modelling and analysing complex biological systems.

The lecture will also introduce all applied topics covered in the module and discuss their properties and dynamic aspects.

The Seminar

The seminar is designed for students to focus more deeply and individually on a specific research project from the range of topics discussed in the lecture. Each student will pick a Complexity Explorable and study the system it describes and related papers in more detail.

Each student will have to give a presentation of the explorable. Because of Covid-19 the presentations cannot be given in class. Each student can make a recording of the presentation and turn it in. The presentations will be collected on the Seminar page.

The Lab Course

Computer Simulations are a central analysis tool for understanding complex dynamic phenomena in biology. In the practical course (Fachkurs) the student will learn how to model complex systems with netlogo, a free programming environment for agent based simulations. Netlogo is easy to learn also for students who have never been exposed to computer programming.

Requirements

The basic requirements for the successful completion of the course is a basic knowledge of calculus and very basic knowledge of differential equations. Programming skills are not required but helpful.

If you are uncertain whether you meet the requirements, contact me.

Every student requires a laptop computer. Most students have a laptop, for those of you who do not have a laptop I can provide one.

Contact

The best way to contact me is by Email complexsystems2021@gmail.com.