Laurent Hébert-Dufresne: Spread of Viruses and Ideas in the Age of Echo Chambers

Laurent Hébert-Dufresne: Spread of Viruses and Ideas in the Age of Echo Chambers

With the advent of the new science of networks, we now know how unequal and segregated our social networks are. This lecture will introduce this new science as well as two concrete examples. In the physical world, understanding social networks change how we fight diseases. In the virtual world, it highlights the feedback loop between the spread of new ideas and how we chose to interact; often leading to closed echo chambers and less dialogue. Laurent Hébert-Dufresne is an Assistant Professor of computer science at UVM.

This lecture is part of Generator’s Reckless Ideas program.  Reckless Ideas is a series of lectures featuring a diverse mix of Burlington’s top thinkers and innovators at the intersection of design and science. Created in collaboration with UVM’s Complex Systems Center, Reckless Ideas features speakers who push disciplinary boundaries with topics including autonomous robots, the spread of ideas and viruses, x-ray diffractometry analysis in pipe organs, the Internet of things and more.