Collection 

The Evolving Landscape of Complex Systems

Submission status
Open
Submission deadline

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.

 

The Evolving Landscape of Complex Systems is a curated special collection in npj Complexity inspired by themes explored at the Conference on Complex Systems 2025 (CCS25). This collection consolidates emerging advances in theory, methodologies, and applications across the multifaceted area of complexity science. It seeks contributions that span the full spectrum - from novel computational frameworks and multiscale analyses to domain-adaptive models and novel complexity science applications - reflecting the discipline’s rapid evolution.

This collection invites novel research that explores:

  • Conceptual foundations and theory: advancements in network science, emergent dynamics, agent-based modelling, nonlinear systems, and adaptive behaviours, providing refined lenses for interpreting complex phenomena.
  • Cross-scale integration and robustness: studies elucidating how micro-level interactions scale up to macro-level patterns, resilience, and adaptation in systems spanning biological, social, technological, and ecological networks.
  • Computational innovation: cutting-edge analytical and computational methods - ranging from data-driven approaches and AI-augmented modelling to novel simulations and multilevel inference - that enhance the understanding and manipulation of complex systems.
  • Interdisciplinary and application-oriented research: compelling case studies where complexity science addresses urgent global challenges - such as pandemics, misinformation, climate change, socioeconomic inequality, inclusivity and diversity, and governance - demonstrating adaptability and societal relevance.

Submissions are welcomed from all researchers working in complexity science, regardless of conference participation.

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Please follow the steps detailed on this page, to prepare your manuscript for submission. Submissions are handled via our online submission system. When filling out the manuscript information, under the "Details" tab, in the Collection section, please select "The Evolving Landscape of Complex Systems" from the alphabetical list. Authors should express their interest in the Collection in their cover letter.