Our diverse pannel of invited speakers bring together expertise from across different fields of complex systems science — from statistical physics and science of science, passing through the world of ecology— providing insights into how complexity emerges in nature and society.

Alessandro Laio

Alessandro Laio is a professor in the Statistical and Biological Physics sector in the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste. His main work revolves mainly on the development of analysis techniques for complex data landscapes, as well as to the development of algorithms for enhancing the capability of computer simulations to provide predictive answers for complex heterogeneous systems.

Silvia De Monte

Silvia has always been fascinated by the coherent functioning of biological systems—ranging from microbial populations to societies. As a physicist turned biologist, she seeks to use mathematical models to uncover general principles that structure collective behaviors and underpin their dynamics across ecological and evolutionary timescales. Their findings apply primarily to microbial populations, and particularly to highly diverse plankton communities. She received her scientific training in Europe: after studying physics in Milan, Italy, she worked at the Institute of Mathematics at the University of Vienna before earning her PhD in physics at the Technical University of Denmark. She subsequently held a Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship at École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where she also obtained a Master’s degree in biology. She currently serve as a Research Director at CNRS.

Floriana Gargiulo

Floriana Gargiulo has a background in the physics of complex systems, with expertise in the study of complex networks. Her research combines theoretical modeling and data-driven approaches to investigate the structure and dynamics of complex systems, with a progressive focus on computational social science. Since 2016, she has been a researcher at the CNRS, affiliated with GEMASS. Her work lies at the intersection of network science, data science, and social sciences, with particular emphasis on the science of science and online social media. Her research explores the mechanisms underlying knowledge production, scientific collaboration, information diffusion, and collective dynamics in digital environments. She also teaches at Sorbonne University and ENSAE Paris, contributing to interdisciplinary training in network science, computational methods, and quantitative approaches to social phenomena.