MASCOS, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematics and Statistics of Complex Systems brings together leading Australian mathematical scientists in the fields of critical phenomena, dynamical systems, stochastic processes, probability and statistics, algorithmics, optimisation, network analysis and climate processes, to address key problems that are of immediate and long-term relevance to the development, protection and wellbeing of the Australian people.

In working towards the MASCOS Vision, our researchers attack the underlying problem in complex systems science, which is:
How do local or small-scale phenomena interact to create complex or chaotic behaviour?
MASCOS’ research program revolves around three flagship applications, which guide the structure and focus of the Centre’s research. These are: Accurate assessment of financial risk, security of large engineering grids, and control of emerging pests, diseases and pathogens.

Tackling these and other key applications (such as climate modeling) draws upon a variety of mathematical and statistical techniques, which form the backbone of research into solutions to complex systems problems. The research program at MASCOS is grouped into four, strongly interlinked themes: Critical Phenomena, Risk Modelling, Dynamical Systems and Complex Networks, each of which constitutes a concerted push towards the central program of the relationship between local behaviour and global complexity. The relevance of the projects tackled by each theme cuts across the flagship applications, and, due to the generic nature of mathematics, has great potential to extend beyond them.