History of the Centre for Complex Systems

In 1994 the Department of Theoretical Physics in the Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at the Australian National University established a pilot National Centre for Theoretical Physics (NCTP), in the hope that ultimately it might develop into a larger scale National Centre involving other Australian universities. The main aims of the pilot Centre were to conduct the annual Summer Schools in physics, which were established by the Department of Theoretical Physics, Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering (RSPhysSE), in 1988, and to conduct topical Workshops involving the participation of both overseas and Australian researchers.

With funds provided by the Australian Research Council, the ANU Institute of Advanced Studies, and the ANU Research School of Physical Sciences & Engineering, the Centre has continued with the Summer School series in December or January each year, and has conducted several successful Research Workshops on:

• High Temperature Superconductivity (1994)
• Non-Perturbative Methods in Quantum Field Theory (1995)
• Electron Interactions with Atoms and Molecules (1996)
• Two-Dimensional Turbulence in Plasmas and Fluids (1997)
• Statistical Mechanics and Integrable Systems (1997)
• Low Dimensional Systems and Nanostructures (1998)
• Soft Condensed Matter: Physical and Biological Aspects (2000)
• 25th International Workshop on Condensed Matter Theories (2001)
• Workshop on Turbulence and Coherent Structures (2006)

In 1995 a committee consisting of Professors Melrose, Walls and Wilson recommended that a National Institute for Theoretical Physics (NITP) be set up, based on a joint proposal by Adelaide University, the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales. A steering committee for this Institute met in Adelaide, but did not proceed with a bid for ARC funding due to advice from the ARC that there did not exist a suitable funding category at that time. Some other support was obtained for NITP activities at Adelaide. The present situation is that the three nodes (Adelaide, ANU, UNSW) are continuing their activities in a collaborative way through the existing structures.

In order to avoid confusion between the NCTP and the NITP, and to enhance its role as a vehicle for cross-disciplinary activities in the physical sciences at the ANU, Council in March 1999 authorised a change of name to The Australian National University Centre for Theoretical Physics (CTP). A Board with wide representation from areas concerned with theoretical activities in the physical sciences across the campus has been set up in order to advise on policy matters and the program of activities of the Centre. By drawing upon the full depth and breadth of theoretical research expertise in the physical sciences available at the ANU, a resource unparalleled in Australia, the Centre's national and international role as a facilitator of research and graduate education will be expanded.

In 2000 the Department of Theoretical Physics was reviewed in the context of theoretical activity generally within the ANU's Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering. The Review Committee recommended the creation of a structure to bring together all the major areas of theoretical physics within the School, and to stimulate more interaction and synergy between them. The ANU's Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies has approved the School's recommendation that the Centre for Theoretical Physics (subsequently renamed Centre for Complex Systems) should assume this role under a Coordinator responsible for a limited budget. This strengthens the role of the CCS as an umbrella organisation for theoretical work within the School, while maintaining its historical outreach roles.

The Centre for Complex Systems was formed under the umbrella of the new National Institute of Physical Sciences in 2001, taking over and extending the activities of the ANU Centre for Theoretical Physics. The formation of the CCS brought together the many strengths of the ANU in aspects of complex systems science, which are spread over a diverse range of departments.

In 2004, under the auspices of the CCS, a proposal to set up the ARC Complex Open Systems Research Network (COSNet) was successful in attracting $300,000 per year, over five years, from the ARC to facilitate national networking in complex systems science. An additional cash contribution to COSNet of $20,000 per year from the ANU forms the current non-salary annual budget of the CCS, which manages COSNet.