Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
@lhd.bsky.social
Professor at the Vermont Complex Systems Institute, External Prof at the Santa Fe Institute, Editor-in-Chief of npj Complexity. Likes networks, contagions, complexity, public health, animals, hockey, horror, & black metal
Lab: https://joint-lab.github.io
Lab: https://joint-lab.github.io
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
What do Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Mortal Kombat have to teach us about #cultural #evolution? As a social-technological phenomenon, #arcade game genres evolved like cultural species—some diversified, while others became "living fossils." 🕹️🧪 👉 doi.org/10.1017/ehs....
August 20, 2025 at 1:11 PM
What do Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and Mortal Kombat have to teach us about #cultural #evolution? As a social-technological phenomenon, #arcade game genres evolved like cultural species—some diversified, while others became "living fossils." 🕹️🧪 👉 doi.org/10.1017/ehs....
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
CCS 2026 Call for Satellites is now up on the conference website!
ccs2026.github.io#call-for-sat...
ccs2026.github.io#call-for-sat...
CCS 2026: The 2026 Conference on Complex Systems @ Binghamton, NY, USA
ccs2026.github.io
November 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
CCS 2026 Call for Satellites is now up on the conference website!
ccs2026.github.io#call-for-sat...
ccs2026.github.io#call-for-sat...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
We’re grateful for the incredible response to the call for contributions! Due to many requests, we have decided to extend the deadline until November 30, 2025 (AoE).
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Extended deadline: Submit by Nov 30, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Extended deadline: Submit by Nov 30, 2025!
complenet.weeblysite.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM
We’re grateful for the incredible response to the call for contributions! Due to many requests, we have decided to extend the deadline until November 30, 2025 (AoE).
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Extended deadline: Submit by Nov 30, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Extended deadline: Submit by Nov 30, 2025!
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
What James Watson got wrong about DNA - The Boston Globe
The science he helped pioneer consistently undermines his view that genes determine everything about us.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
This paper is definitely outside my niche expertise, but fascinating and really, really well done.
"gridded, orderly neighborhoods reduce the social interactions residents have with neighbors, lower embeddedness in political problem-solving networks, and depress electoral turnout."
"gridded, orderly neighborhoods reduce the social interactions residents have with neighbors, lower embeddedness in political problem-solving networks, and depress electoral turnout."
American Journal of Political Science | MPSA Journal | Wiley Online Library
Amid rapid urbanization in the developing world, there is growing interest in the effects of urban context on political behavior. An underexplored element of urban context is the built environment it...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
This paper is definitely outside my niche expertise, but fascinating and really, really well done.
"gridded, orderly neighborhoods reduce the social interactions residents have with neighbors, lower embeddedness in political problem-solving networks, and depress electoral turnout."
"gridded, orderly neighborhoods reduce the social interactions residents have with neighbors, lower embeddedness in political problem-solving networks, and depress electoral turnout."
We wrote a little something! @nwlandry.bsky.social and I talk about how new software to study networks with groups (like @xgi.bsky.social !) can help interdisciplinary collaborations tackle old questions from social ontology and the science of groups.
www.siam.org/publications...
www.siam.org/publications...
Group Science: The Open Source Study of Higher-order Networks With XGI | SIAM
The CompleX Group Interactions (XGI) software package offers analytical tools, tutorials, and documentation for higher-order network science research.
www.siam.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
We wrote a little something! @nwlandry.bsky.social and I talk about how new software to study networks with groups (like @xgi.bsky.social !) can help interdisciplinary collaborations tackle old questions from social ontology and the science of groups.
www.siam.org/publications...
www.siam.org/publications...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
📢 Keynotes unlocked: 5/12. Thrilled to have Laurent Hébert-Dufresne @lhd.bsky.social as a keynote speaker in Complenet’26! Join us to learn more about #networks and #dynamics!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
October 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
📢 Keynotes unlocked: 5/12. Thrilled to have Laurent Hébert-Dufresne @lhd.bsky.social as a keynote speaker in Complenet’26! Join us to learn more about #networks and #dynamics!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Next CoCo seminar on October 1st by Juniper Lovato from the University of Vermont!
September 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Next CoCo seminar on October 1st by Juniper Lovato from the University of Vermont!
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
In 2016 Geoffrey Hinton said “we should stop training radiologists now" since AI would soon be better at their jobs.
He was right: models have outperformed radiologists on benchmarks for ~a decade.
Yet radiology jobs are at record highs, with an average salary of $520k.
Why?
He was right: models have outperformed radiologists on benchmarks for ~a decade.
Yet radiology jobs are at record highs, with an average salary of $520k.
Why?
September 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
In 2016 Geoffrey Hinton said “we should stop training radiologists now" since AI would soon be better at their jobs.
He was right: models have outperformed radiologists on benchmarks for ~a decade.
Yet radiology jobs are at record highs, with an average salary of $520k.
Why?
He was right: models have outperformed radiologists on benchmarks for ~a decade.
Yet radiology jobs are at record highs, with an average salary of $520k.
Why?
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Final week to apply for the 2026 SFI Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you're an early-career scholar and passionate about collaborative, transdisciplinary research beyond traditional departments, this is the postdoc fellowship for you.
Deadline: Oct 1, 2025
Apply: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you're an early-career scholar and passionate about collaborative, transdisciplinary research beyond traditional departments, this is the postdoc fellowship for you.
Deadline: Oct 1, 2025
Apply: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
September 22, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Final week to apply for the 2026 SFI Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you're an early-career scholar and passionate about collaborative, transdisciplinary research beyond traditional departments, this is the postdoc fellowship for you.
Deadline: Oct 1, 2025
Apply: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you're an early-career scholar and passionate about collaborative, transdisciplinary research beyond traditional departments, this is the postdoc fellowship for you.
Deadline: Oct 1, 2025
Apply: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Very cool interactive story, @jstonge.bsky.social!
"[...] real social cascades aren't simply branching processes with fixed rules." A self-reinforcing mechanism is what we propose in a recent piece led by the one and only @lhd.bsky.social.
"[...] real social cascades aren't simply branching processes with fixed rules." A self-reinforcing mechanism is what we propose in a recent piece led by the one and only @lhd.bsky.social.
Our Physical Review Letter looks at how to get power-law distributions of cascade size without tuning or self-organization to criticality by allowing cascades to improve in quality and jump over gaps or dead-ends
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
complex-stories.uvm.edu
September 21, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Very cool interactive story, @jstonge.bsky.social!
"[...] real social cascades aren't simply branching processes with fixed rules." A self-reinforcing mechanism is what we propose in a recent piece led by the one and only @lhd.bsky.social.
"[...] real social cascades aren't simply branching processes with fixed rules." A self-reinforcing mechanism is what we propose in a recent piece led by the one and only @lhd.bsky.social.
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
📢 Excited to announce CompleNet 2026! Join us to share your network science research in a highly interdisciplinary conference!
🗓️ 4–8 May 2026 | 📍 Zaragoza, Spain 🇪🇸
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🗓️ 4–8 May 2026 | 📍 Zaragoza, Spain 🇪🇸
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
September 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
📢 Excited to announce CompleNet 2026! Join us to share your network science research in a highly interdisciplinary conference!
🗓️ 4–8 May 2026 | 📍 Zaragoza, Spain 🇪🇸
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
🗓️ 4–8 May 2026 | 📍 Zaragoza, Spain 🇪🇸
🚨 Call for contributions open – submit by Nov 15, 2025!
🌐 Info & registration: complenet.weeblysite.com
Our Physical Review Letter looks at how to get power-law distributions of cascade size without tuning or self-organization to criticality by allowing cascades to improve in quality and jump over gaps or dead-ends
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
complex-stories.uvm.edu
September 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Our Physical Review Letter looks at how to get power-law distributions of cascade size without tuning or self-organization to criticality by allowing cascades to improve in quality and jump over gaps or dead-ends
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
TL;DR complex-stories.uvm.edu/friends-funn...
Paper: journals.aps.org/prl/abstract...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
🚨 Excited to share a new paper 📃, years in the making, with Zach Wood.
We propose that human evolution is characterized as an Evolutionary Transition in Inheritance and Individuality (ETII).
Explainer and OA paper below:
We propose that human evolution is characterized as an Evolutionary Transition in Inheritance and Individuality (ETII).
Explainer and OA paper below:
September 15, 2025 at 4:16 PM
🚨 Excited to share a new paper 📃, years in the making, with Zach Wood.
We propose that human evolution is characterized as an Evolutionary Transition in Inheritance and Individuality (ETII).
Explainer and OA paper below:
We propose that human evolution is characterized as an Evolutionary Transition in Inheritance and Individuality (ETII).
Explainer and OA paper below:
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Done! It was a super fun week of complexity. Huge thanks to the organizers! And see you all next year in Binghamton!!
#CCS2025 #CCS2026
youtu.be/kIK3DleA-Us
#CCS2025 #CCS2026
youtu.be/kIK3DleA-Us
CCS 2026 | Binghamton, N.Y., USA
YouTube video by Watson College at Binghamton University
youtu.be
September 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Done! It was a super fun week of complexity. Huge thanks to the organizers! And see you all next year in Binghamton!!
#CCS2025 #CCS2026
youtu.be/kIK3DleA-Us
#CCS2025 #CCS2026
youtu.be/kIK3DleA-Us
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Excited to announce the Social Network Summer School 🇨🇱!
📅 Jan 12–16, 2026 | Santiago, Chile
Keynotes: @estebanmoro.bsky.social & @krivitsky.net
@insna.bsky.social & @netscisociety.bsky.social
Apply by Oct 5 👉 snlab-cl.github.io/summerschool/
📅 Jan 12–16, 2026 | Santiago, Chile
Keynotes: @estebanmoro.bsky.social & @krivitsky.net
@insna.bsky.social & @netscisociety.bsky.social
Apply by Oct 5 👉 snlab-cl.github.io/summerschool/
September 4, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Excited to announce the Social Network Summer School 🇨🇱!
📅 Jan 12–16, 2026 | Santiago, Chile
Keynotes: @estebanmoro.bsky.social & @krivitsky.net
@insna.bsky.social & @netscisociety.bsky.social
Apply by Oct 5 👉 snlab-cl.github.io/summerschool/
📅 Jan 12–16, 2026 | Santiago, Chile
Keynotes: @estebanmoro.bsky.social & @krivitsky.net
@insna.bsky.social & @netscisociety.bsky.social
Apply by Oct 5 👉 snlab-cl.github.io/summerschool/
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
🎓 I've joined the PhD in Complex Systems & Data Science at @vcsi.bsky.social to work w/ @lhd.bsky.social & @juniperlov.bsky.social to explore social (complex) dynamics
🔬 Huge thanks to @joanagsa.bsky.social & Lília Perfeito for helping me get ready for this chapter
🚀 Excited for this next step!
🔬 Huge thanks to @joanagsa.bsky.social & Lília Perfeito for helping me get ready for this chapter
🚀 Excited for this next step!
September 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
🎓 I've joined the PhD in Complex Systems & Data Science at @vcsi.bsky.social to work w/ @lhd.bsky.social & @juniperlov.bsky.social to explore social (complex) dynamics
🔬 Huge thanks to @joanagsa.bsky.social & Lília Perfeito for helping me get ready for this chapter
🚀 Excited for this next step!
🔬 Huge thanks to @joanagsa.bsky.social & Lília Perfeito for helping me get ready for this chapter
🚀 Excited for this next step!
Happy to be in beautiful Siena for the Conference on Complex Systems. We are partnering with the organizers for a Collection in npj Complexity on "The Evolving Landscape of Complex Systems." #ccs2025
I'm excited to meet everyone to talk complexity!
Submit your work: www.nature.com/collections/...
I'm excited to meet everyone to talk complexity!
Submit your work: www.nature.com/collections/...
September 1, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Happy to be in beautiful Siena for the Conference on Complex Systems. We are partnering with the organizers for a Collection in npj Complexity on "The Evolving Landscape of Complex Systems." #ccs2025
I'm excited to meet everyone to talk complexity!
Submit your work: www.nature.com/collections/...
I'm excited to meet everyone to talk complexity!
Submit your work: www.nature.com/collections/...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
We love this research profile on Vermont Complex Systems Institute core faculty @juniperlov.bsky.social 🐙 www.linkedin.com/posts/uvm-vc...
Juniper Lovato is a Vermont Complex Systems Institute core faculty member and an outstanding thinker who has been critical to many of our most significant research efforts. Learn about what makes her…...
Juniper Lovato is a Vermont Complex Systems Institute core faculty member and an outstanding thinker who has been critical to many of our most significant research efforts. Learn about what makes her ...
www.linkedin.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
We love this research profile on Vermont Complex Systems Institute core faculty @juniperlov.bsky.social 🐙 www.linkedin.com/posts/uvm-vc...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
A survey of >99k people (110 regions) shows the Global North has denser belief networks, while the Global South has looser connections
Inconsistency appears in areas (eg Mid East), where support for fossil fuels conflicts with support for renewables/climate policies
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Inconsistency appears in areas (eg Mid East), where support for fossil fuels conflicts with support for renewables/climate policies
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Variations in climate change belief systems across 110 geographic areas - Nature Climate Change
Climate beliefs do not exist in isolation but form an interconnected network known as a belief system. This study analyses the density and inconsistency of belief systems and their associations with informational and socioeconomic factors to inform effective climate change communication strategies.
www.nature.com
August 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
A survey of >99k people (110 regions) shows the Global North has denser belief networks, while the Global South has looser connections
Inconsistency appears in areas (eg Mid East), where support for fossil fuels conflicts with support for renewables/climate policies
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Inconsistency appears in areas (eg Mid East), where support for fossil fuels conflicts with support for renewables/climate policies
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
It might start as a joke, belief, or rumor, easy to dismiss. But then it twists, builds momentum, and spreads like wildfire. Why do some ideas die out while others go viral?
A new study by researchers from the University of Vermont and the Santa Fe Institute offers answers: santafe.edu/news
A new study by researchers from the University of Vermont and the Santa Fe Institute offers answers: santafe.edu/news
August 21, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It might start as a joke, belief, or rumor, easy to dismiss. But then it twists, builds momentum, and spreads like wildfire. Why do some ideas die out while others go viral?
A new study by researchers from the University of Vermont and the Santa Fe Institute offers answers: santafe.edu/news
A new study by researchers from the University of Vermont and the Santa Fe Institute offers answers: santafe.edu/news
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
New job ad: Assistant Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Dartmouth College apply.interfolio.com/172357
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
August 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New job ad: Assistant Professor of Quantitative Social Science, Dartmouth College apply.interfolio.com/172357
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Please share with your networks. I am the search chair and happy to answer questions!
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
🐒🕸️ New preprint! Confused about how to model animal social networks?
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
Five misunderstandings in animal social network analysis
ecoevorxiv.org
August 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
🐒🕸️ New preprint! Confused about how to model animal social networks?
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
ASNA can be confusing—but also full of opportunity. We break down 5 common misunderstandings in animal social network analysis and share solutions from behavioural ecology, anthro, stats, & network science. Hope it helps!
A 🧵
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
July 28, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Applications are open for SFI's 2026 Complexity Postdoctoral Fellowships
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
If you’ve recently earned a Ph.D. in any scientific field and want to pursue independent, transdisciplinary research, consider applying.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Apply here: santafe.edu/sfifellowship
Reposted by Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
Excited that our #network data sharing recommendations have received a commendation from SIPS!
Read the recommendations 👉 www.zacharyneal.com/datasharing
Endorse the recommendations 👉 forms.gle/sgpjyUnkufJF...
Read the recommendations 👉 www.zacharyneal.com/datasharing
Endorse the recommendations 👉 forms.gle/sgpjyUnkufJF...
We are very pleased to announce the 2025 Commendations for the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science! Join us in celebrating the exceptional projects that have revolutionized the field of psychological science.
buff.ly/rzTeLYL
buff.ly/rzTeLYL
July 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Excited that our #network data sharing recommendations have received a commendation from SIPS!
Read the recommendations 👉 www.zacharyneal.com/datasharing
Endorse the recommendations 👉 forms.gle/sgpjyUnkufJF...
Read the recommendations 👉 www.zacharyneal.com/datasharing
Endorse the recommendations 👉 forms.gle/sgpjyUnkufJF...