Associate Professor
School of Mathematics
University of Bristol, U.K.

My research focuses on the use of information theory to study formation, maintenance and decline of complex systems. Examples are vitrification, protein dynamics, quantum physics and stem cell differentiation. This research is part of a long-term goal to build a foundational framework for complex systems involving many areas of mathematics, science, and philosophy of science. In a recent book I have developed a taxonomy of complex systems. This is relevant for phenomena ranging from physics to biology to social science. Current topics are:
  • stability of democracy,
  • measuring features of complexity in climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions,
  • information theoretic measures of complexity features,
  • philosophical foundations of complexity.

I am external faculty at the Complexity Science Hub Vienna.
I am affiliated member of the Centre for Science and Philosophy.
Foundations of complexity
In a forthcoming book, James Ladyman and I have developed a conceptual framework for the phenomenon of complexity which covers all the well-known phenomena that are associated with complexity. Research articles on the subject are available on the project page.
Complex system perspective on democracy
Complex systems theory offers a range of powerful new tools to analyse the stability of social institutions in general, and democracy in particular. What makes a democracy stable? And which processes potentially lead to instability of a democratic system? This work offers a complex systems perspective on this question, informed by areas of the mathematical, natural, and social sciences.