Junshan Zhang, ASU, USA

Title: A Note on Emerging Science for Interdependent Networks

Abstract:
Modern society relies on a web of physical network infrastructures, such as power stations, telecommunication networks and transportation systems. Thanks to technological advances, these infrastructures have become increasingly dependent on one another and have emerged as interdependent networks. While interdependency enables to build systems that are larger, smarter, and more complex, it is also observed that interdependent systems tend to be more fragile against failures, natural hazards and attacks. It is therefore of vital importance to develop the science for interdependent Networks, which serves as the foundation to better understand the interplays among individual networks and propel significant advances therein, such as the Internet, power grid, social networks, the financial system, and the economy -- to name just a few. This talk will present our findings about network interdependence from two perspectives: the impact on cascading failures in smart grid and that on information diffusion in social-physical networks.