Workshop on Multilayer and Interconnected Networks: Epidemic Processes and Robustness

Propagation of rumours, computer viruses, infectious diseases, technological innovations, or awareness between individuals are examples of contagious processes. Some of them can take place simultaneously over the same set of nodes (individuals, computers, ...) but through different types of interactions (different routes of transmission). Such a situation is formally described in terms of multilayer networks, an abstract representation where multiple types of links exist among nodes. Interconnected networks are an abstract representation where two or more simple networks, possibly with different and separate dynamics, are coupled to each other.

The goal of this one-day workshop is to bring together scientists working on the topic of multilayer and interconnected networks. The speakers will present their latest results and will carry out a discussion on the state of the art and current open challenges for this topic. We hope the meeting will provide an informal venue for encouraging interdisciplinary communication.

There will be room for a poster session.

The workshop is co-organized by the groups "Differential Equations, Modelling, and Applications" (EDMA) and "Broadband Communication and Distributed Systems" (BCDS), both from the Universitat de Girona (UdG).

The event has financial support from the UdG, and will be held on Wednesday, 8 June 2016, at the premises of the Escola Politècnica Superior of this university: Sala d'actes, Edifici P-IV (conference room, building P-IV).

Attendance is free of cost but registration for audience members is required for organizational purposes. In order to register, please use the online registration form.

Background

C. Scoglio and F. Sahneh (Kansas State University) are principal investigators of the NSF project CIF: Small: Spreading Processes Over Multilayer And Interconnected Networks together with P. Van Mieghem (TU Delft) and J.L. Marzo (University of Girona). Goals of the project include developing measures for quantification of coupling strength in interconnected networks and analyzing simultaneous spreading of viruses on multilayer networks. Scientists in Europe are leaders in this topic, through several European Union projects: the Multiplex project, the Plexmath project, and the Lasagne project. The Multiplex project is a large project with the goal of conducting foundational research on multilevel complex networks and systems involving 22 scientific institutions in Europe. Plexmath is a smaller project involving several universities with the goal of formulating a brand-new mathematical framework for the analysis of multilevel networks. Finally, the Lasagne project involves research centres and universities from Austria, UK, Spain, and France. It aims to provide a novel and coherent theoretical framework for analysing and modelling dynamic and multi-layer networks in terms of multi-graphs embedded in space and time.