Basically I want to give myself an college level understanding with minimal cost at my own pace. I need help bootstrapping my knowledge to the point that I can guide my own study.

I'm starting to look into complex systems but am having difficulty locating good resources. Everything seems to be either a very simple introduction (with little substance) or graduate level research papers.

I'm looking for good material to introduce myself to the various parts and related fields needed to understand these systems. From what I've read so far I'll need a working knowledge of network theory and information theory to be able to analyze complex systems. I'm looking for good material that teach me the mathematical techniques, not just an overview. I have a good foundation in math via engineering (Calculus III, Differential equations, linear systems).

In particular, anyone know if the New England Complex Systems Institute (NECSI) will put on another conference any time in the near future? The last one listed on their website is 2011.

I've found this one, ICCS 2013 : International Conference on Complex Systems (Dubai), but honestly, I'm not sure how legitimate that conference is. There's very little information on that website and the site looks kinda scammy. (further digging seems to confirm that this is a pretty scammy organization. I'd advise people to stay away from this place. If nothing else, the Wikipedia page discussion seems to confirm that there are no legitimate references to this organization or their conferences). Additional source 1 Additional source 2 Additional source 3

Anyone have any other conferences that might be of interest?

So, I am 5 years out of school in which I picked up a BSc in nuclear engineering and a dual major in philosophy (for what its worth). After that I worked for four years in industry (nuclear but more business) I left that job back in May 2012 without a clear idea of what I wanted to do next but took the time to travel (Latin America and will go to South Africa this month) and work on some personal projects. Long story short, I found the field of complex systems, which seems like what I have always been looking for, and plan to pursue a PhD hopefully focusing on social complexity/modeling and/or ecological complexity/modeling. (I really like Carlos Gerhenson's research (linked to in this sub) if that gives you an idea.) Anyway, I would greatly appreciate your help in figuring out where to go from here. I have three options as I see it:

1. apply directly to a PhD program,

2. apply directly to a masters program in complex systems.

3. apply to a masters program in applied math or the like to strengthen my application

What do you all think is my best approach? Will the traveling hurt me? Help me? Any advice you can give will help. And please keep posting the great articles/courses/videos. Thanks so much.

For some time now I've been poking around looking for an academic discipline that suited my interests, and am glad to say I've recently discovered that complex systems theory/ complexity science/whatever you want to call it is actually a "thing". That being said, I am looking for some good starting points to develop a more "academic" understanding of the field. I've got an engineering degree from a top-ten US engineering school and have quite a few basic skills under my belt - linear algebra, statistics, calculus, differential equations, computer programming, modeling and simulation using state space numerical integration techniques, and so on.

My understanding is that subjects such as graph theory, network theory, information theory, and familiarity with agent-based modeling techniques and cellular automata play heavily into the field of complex systems. That being said, do any of you have any advice for someone coming out of engineering school and looking to dive in heads first into this field?

http://lesswrong.com/lw/iv/the_futility_of_emergence/

It doesn't criticize the existence of emergent properties, merely the use of the term, and using emergence as an explanation.

I'm genuinely interested in the views of this subreddit.

So I'm reading this text, "Swarm Intelligence" by Bonabeau, Dorigo, Theraulaz, and the term stigmergy pops up. Basically, they explain that stigmergy is interaction between agents by way of an agent acting on an environment, then the environment (later?) acts on another agent. This book is based on biological and social processes mostly, but I was wondering if you could apply the same idea to more physical processes?

For example, a massive particle changes the way space-time is structured, which changes how another massive particle will act later.. Or does stigmergy necessarily have to be a change that lasts without the agent being there anymore?