Exploring Applications of connectivity science to understand and manage complex systems

WP3 provides an analytical umbrella for the disciplinary and interdisciplinary applications of Connectivity Science in the network. The underlying motivation of these applications is the need for a better understanding of complex systems in order that they may be better adapted or managed. Consequently, research conducted in WP3 is closely linked to our non-academic partners and real-world challenges. The applications are driven by hypothesized theoretical relationships between SC and FC (WP1), such that each application is informed by the key theoretical problem that drives the application.

The applications of Connectivity Science that are integral to WP3 draw upon the methodological framework developed in WP2 and are clearly aligned to one or more of the topics addressed therein. Applications of Connectivity Science are crucial to advancing the work of our non-academic project partners who have driven putting together the objectives of WP3.

WP3 will be achieved by fulfilling the following objectives:

Objective 3.1
Will use applications of Connectivity Science to advance both the theoretical underpinnings of Connectivity Science, and the application of the methods developed in WP2 (ESRs1, 4, 6–15).

Objective 3.2
Will explore and understand commonalities in the structure and dynamics of a range of complex systems and hence of the respective concepts that have been developed across scientific disciplines.

Objective 3.3
Will test the applicability, compatibility and enhancement of consistent methods from one discipline to the other.

Fulfilling objective 3.3 will feed back to WP1 for checking theoretical consistency and for developing the theoretical framework of Connectivity Science and to WP2 for providing feedback on the methods. Objectives 3.2 and 3.3 will be addressed by the ESR projects that draw heavily on applications from more than one discipline (ESRs1, 4, 6, 7, 11, 14, 15).

ESR Positions in this Work Package

ESR 1

Durham University (United Kingdom)

Spatial and temporal roles of critical nodes in ecogeomorphic systems

ESR 10

University of Vienna (Austria)

Hotspots and hot moments: the role of connectivity and resilience science for managing human-impacted catchment systems

ESR 11

AAISCS (Cyprus)

Connectivity within network processes and coupling with global flows

ESR 12

MODUL University (Austria)

Flows of critical (energy) resources

ESR 13

Durham University (United Kingdom)

Resilience of human interactions with new landscapes

ESR 14

University of Groningen (Netherlands)

Understanding the emergence of connectivity science in practice: a network of network colleagues

ESR 15

Durham University (United Kingdom)

Use connectivity science to determine the fate (source-pathway-interceptors) of specific diffuse chemicals and pathogens in the water supply chain

ESR 4

Masaryk University (Czech Republic)

Catastrophic transitions: Regime shifts in network topology resulting in novel systems

ESR 6

Durham University (United Kingdom)

Scaling connectivity science in fluvial systems

ESR 8

BOKU (Austria)

Changing connectivity properties impacting resilience in riverine landscapes as socio-ecological systems

ESR 9

Masaryk University (Czech Republic)

Critical nodes in economic connectivity: A multi-method application to facilitate structural transitions