10 years of research at IFISC

The Institute of Interdisciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC) celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2017. Through the organization of various activities, the IFISC will not only commemorate its first ten years of life but also set the future foundation of the center to remain at first line of research in the field of Complex Systems Physics.

Created in 2007 from the Department of Interdisciplinary Physics of the IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies), the IFISC is a joint center between the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) and the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) with the objective of developing a strategic and interdisciplinary research, seeking to avoid the polarization that exists between basic and applied research, while breaking established boundaries between the different scientific branches. In words of its director, Professor Maxi San Miguel, "our slogan Connecting  Science, Understanding Complexity indicates our mission to build new scientific paradigms in fields of great social impact that appear in no man's land among traditional disciplines". The institute made a change of image, releasing a renewed logo and a complete redesign of its website coinciding with its anniversary. Both the new website and the renewal of the corporate image were presented at the Open Doors Day of the Institute last Monday, February 6. In addition to presenting the institute to students of the UIB, they were advised on the research career and the different training options offered by IFISC.

As a main event, the IFISC organizes the conference Crossroads in Complex Systems, June 5-8. The conference aims to defining new trends in the field of research in complex systems. It will also include the institutional event commemorating the 10 years of the Institute and a roundtable with directors of international reference centers in research on complex.

In addition, throughout the year, different activities will be carried out at all levels: from events of scientific dissemination addressed to the general public, such as participating in the international Pint of Science event or organizing the cycle of conferences 10 Years Exploring the Boundaries between Knowledge at the CaixaForum Palma, to congresses and workshops for researchers, such as Statistics of Network Data Science or Young Researchers Network on Complex Systems.

In its 10 years of existence, the IFISC has managed to place the Balearic Islands as the European hub of research in complex systems. The center has 80 scientists with permanent dedication from 18 different nationalities working on 5 research lines of knowledge transfer from Complex Systems Physics to Quantum Technologies, Information and Communication Technologies, Earth Sciences, Life and Social Sciences. The scientific papers that derive from these investigations are published in high-impact journals, both specialized in physics as in other fields, which is a clear indicator of the interdisciplinary character of the center.

The events of commemoration for the 10 years of the IFISC are sponsored by the European Society of Physics (EPS), the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) and Red Eléctrica de España (REE).