What is the IDDD Complex systems program offered at IIT Madras?
Complex systems and dynamics refer to a field of study that focuses on the analysis of the behavior of interconnected and interdependent ‘emergent systems’. These systems are found in various domains including physics, chemistry, biology, and economics. The exploration of ‘emergent’ system properties is highly advantageous for industry. Dynamics, within complex systems, involve analyzing their evolution and change over time, and studying patterns and trends through mathematical and computational simulations.
The IDDD program on Complex Systems will provide hands-on experience to students through projects and help them analyze using theories of networks, nonlinear dynamics, etc. The students also receive training in the mathematical modeling of complex dynamical systems and get to build network-based models from data.
Who is Eligible to apply?
A B.Tech student of IIT Madras in any discipline (except biosciences) is eligible to upgrade/opt for this program provided the student has a CGPA of 8.0 or above up to the 5th semester.
Curriculum and Courses
The course curriculum consists of three compulsory core courses - One from Complex Networks, and another from Non-Linear Dynamics, followed by a Mathematics and Numerical Techniques course.
Some of the courses in this program include:
- Complex Network Analysis
- Advanced Dynamical Systems
- Numerical Methods in Scientific Computing
- Applied Stochastic Processes
A total of 160 credits need to be completed with 30 credits assigned to core courses, 45 to electives, and the rest from projects. This gives students a chance to develop hands-on research-oriented mindsets. The electives are designed to allow students to gain further depth into interdisciplinary avenues within the program with options from Data Science and High-Performance Computing as well as a mix of elective courses from other engineering fields. This ensures students relate traditional skills to newer approaches to complex dynamic systems.
What are the future prospects?
The course opens up significant future prospects in various fields:
- Research and academia
- Systems biology and medicine
- Urban planning and transportation
- Environmental science and sustainability
- Social Sciences and economics
- Data science and AI
- Policy-making and framework development
To get more information on the program, visit here.