Applied Math Seminar — Sara Clifton (St. Olaf College)

Title: Understanding Complex Social Systems using Minimal Mathematical Models

Abstract:

Minimal mathematical models are used to understand complex phenomena in the physical, biological, and social sciences. This modeling philosophy never claims, nor even attempts, to fully capture the mechanisms underlying the phenomena, and instead offers insights and predictions not otherwise possible. Here, we explore minimal dynamical systems models to understand several complex social phenomena, including the profit-driven abandonment of restaurant tipping, the public health tradeoffs of e-cigarettes, and the progression of women through professional hierarchies. Because of their simplicity, these models offer new connections between existing fields, give optimal solutions with limited data, and provide qualitative predictions of future events.