Mason Porter on Community Detection and Data Topology

from COMPLEXITY · host Mason Porter, Santa Fe Institute, Michael Garfield

One way of looking at the world reveals it as an interference pattern of dynamic, ever-changing links — relationships that grow and break in nested groups of multilayer networks. Identity can be defined by informational exchange between one cluster of relationships and any other. A kind of music starts to make itself apparent in the avalanche of data and new analytical approaches that a century of innovation has availed us. But just as with new music genres, it requires a trained ear to attune to unfamiliar order…what can we learn from network science and related general, abstract mathematical approaches to discovering this order in a flood of numbers?Welcome to COMPLEXITY, the official podcast of the Santa Fe Institute. I’m your host, Michael Garfield, and in every episode we bring you with us for far-ranging conversations with our worldwide network of rigorous researchers developing new frameworks to explain the deepest mysteries of the universe.This week we speak with SFI External Professor, UCLA mathematician Mason Porter (UCLA Website, Twitter, Google Scholar, Wikipedia), about his research on community detection in networks and the topology of data — going deep into a varied toolkit of approaches that help scientists disclose deep structures in the massive data-sets produced by modern life.If you value our research and communication efforts, please subscribe, rate and review us at Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and consider making a donation — or finding other ways to engage with us — at santafe.edu/engage.I know it comes as a surprise, but this is our penultimate episode. Please stay tuned for one more show in May when SFI President David Krakauer and I will reflect on major themes and highlights from the last three-and-a-half years, and look forward to what I’ll be doing next! It’s been an honor and a pleasure to bring complex systems science to you in this way, and hope we stay in touch. I won’t be hard to find.Thank you for listening.Podcast theme music by Mitch Mignano.Follow us on social media:Twitter • YouTube • Facebook • Instagram • LinkedInMentioned & Related Media:Bounded Confidence Models of Opinion Dynamics on NetworksSFI Seminar by Mason Porter (live Twitter coverage & YouTube stream recording)Communities in Networksby Mason Porter, Jukka-Pekka Onnela, & Peter MuchaSocial Structure of Facebook Networksby Amanda Traud, Peter Mucha, & Mason PorterCritical Truths About Power Lawsby Michael Stumpf & Mason PorterThe topology of databy Mason Porter, Michelle Feng, & Eleni KatiforiComplex networks with complex weightsby Lucas Böttcher & Mason A. PorterA Bounded-Confidence Model of Opinion Dynamics on Hypergraphsby Abigail Hicock, Yacoub Kureh, Heather Z. Brooks, Michelle Feng, & Mason PorterA multilayer network model of the coevolution of the spread of a disease and competing opinionsby Kaiyan Peng, Zheng Lu, Vanessa Lin, Michael Lindstrom, Christian Parkinson, Chuntian Wang, Andrea Bertozzi, & Mason PorterSocial network analysis for social neuroscientistsElisa C Baek, Mason A Porter, & Carolyn ParkinsonCommunity structure in social and biological networksby Michelle Girvan & Mark NewmanThe information theory of individualityby David Krakauer, Nils Bertschinger, Eckehard Olbrich, Jessica C Flack, Nihat AySocial capital I: measurement and associations with economic mobilityby Raj Chetty, Matthew O. Jackson, Theresa Kuchler, Johannes Stroebel, Nathaniel Hendren, Robert B. Fluegge, Sara Gong, Federico Gonzalez, Armelle Grondin, Matthew Jacob, Drew Johnston, Martin Koenen, Eduardo Laguna-Muggenburg, Florian Mudekereza, Tom Rutter, Nicolaj Thor, Wilbur Townsend, Ruby Zhang, Mike Bailey, Pablo Barberá, Monica Bhole & Nils Wernerfelt Hierarchical structure and the prediction of missing links in networksby Aaron Clauset, Cristopher Moore, M.E.J. NewmanGregory Bateson (Wikipedia)Complexity Ep. 99 - Alison Gopnik on Child Development, Elderhood, Caregiving, and A.I.“Why Do We Sleep?”by Van Savage & Geoffrey West at Aeon MagazineComplexity Ep. 4 - Luis Bettencourt on The Science of CitiesComplexity Ep. 12 - Matthew Jackson on Social & Economic NetworksComplexity Ep. 68 - W. Brian Arthur on Economics in Nouns and Verbs (Part 1)Complexity Ep. 100 - Dani Bassett & Perry Zurn on The Neuroscience & Philosophy of Curious Minds

NOW PLAYING

0:00 1:22:19

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Our Immune Systems Are Full of Ancient Weapons

May 12, 2026 ·29m

Introducing Drilled: Carbon Cowboys

May 12, 2026 ·27m

20 Facebook Ads Tips For Financial Advisors

May 11, 2026 ·22m

Here’s Why The US And China Struggle To Play Nice

May 8, 2026 ·10m

What Can We Gain by Losing Infinity?

May 5, 2026 ·30m

The End of Cold Prospecting: Three Proven Methods to Warm Up Prospects

May 4, 2026 ·24m

Similar Podcasts

CISO Perspectives (public) N2K Networks This season on CISO Perspectives, host Kim Jones explores some of the challenges of leading through uncertainty. We explore the complexity of the changing nature of regulation and working with the federal government, the evolution of privacy and fraud, and how emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing are changing cyber. When you don’t know what questions to ask, you’re afraid to ask, or don’t know who to ask, CISO Perspectives provides the foundation for learning in this brave new world. Product Management Stories Denny Klisch The complexity of Product Management can discourage young professionals and aspiring individuals from pursuing a career in the field. The purpose of this Podcast is to demystify the complexity of Product Management for young Product Managers or people who want to get into Product Management. The Podcast provides valuable insights into the journeys of successful Product Managers, which helps the audience understand the skills, tools, and techniques they need to develop to become successful Product Managers. Deeply Well with Devi Brown The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts Deeply Well Where higher consciousness meets the complexity of being human.Hosted by Well-Being Master Teacher and multi-disciplinary healer Devi Brown, Deeply Well is a soft place to land for those navigating the quiet, courageous work of becoming whole. Through soul-expanding conversations, guided meditations, and our signature Soul Work, each episode explores what it truly means to heal, to rewire, and to return—to your body, your truth, and your unique path. Created for the seekers, the sensitives, the creatives, and anyone reclaiming peace in a world that often overwhelms, Deeply Well invites you into presence, clarity, and self-mastery—one breath, one practice, one guest at a time.Devi Brown is the founder of Devi Brown Well-Being, former Chief Impact Officer at Chopra Global, and the author of Living in Wisdom and Crystal Bliss. Her work honors the sacred complexity of healing and guides you gently back to yourself—again and again. Comfort in the Workplace Braudis Frano Braudis Frano discusses the culture framework "Comfort in the Workplace". "Comfort in the Workplace" helps leaders establish a culture that enables teams to reach their potential.Braudis covers tools and topics related to the 13 tenets of Comfort in the Workplace - Respect for Team Members, Demand Excellence, Stewardship, Accountability, Consistent Communication, Remove Micromanagement, Simplify Complexity, Continuous Improvement, Proactive Action, Expect Success, Healthy Collaboration, Transparency, and Focus on the Important.Braudis interweaves stories based on his experience to help bring Comfort in the Workplace to life and ensure that you can develop your leadership and establish a high performing culture with your team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of COMPLEXITY?

This episode is 1 hour and 22 minutes long.

When was this COMPLEXITY episode published?

This episode was published on April 5, 2023.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this COMPLEXITY episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!