Opinion Dynamics on Sheaves

Date:    2022.12.29

Time:    9:00-10:30 am

Venue: BIMSA 1120

Zoom:  787 662 9899     Passcode: BIMSA

Abtract：

There is a long history of networked dynamical systems that models the spread of opinions over social networks, with the graph Laplacian playing a lead role. One of the difficulties in modelling opinion dynamics is the presence of polarization: not everyone comes to consensus. This talk will describe work with Jakob Hansen introducing a new model for opinion dynamics using sheaves of vector spaces over social networks. The graph Laplacian is enriched to a Hodge Laplacian, and the resulting dynamics on discourse sheaves can lead to some very interesting and perhaps more realistic outcomes.  Extensions of these ideas to sheaves of lattices (in joint work with Hans Riess) will also be surveyed.