VU mathematicians Christian Bick and Bob Rink will lead the work package 'Collective behavior in networks and life-like matter' of the consortium. Exploiting nonlinear dynamical systems theory, they will develop new mathematics that will be used by soft matter physicists from Utrecht University and AMOLF to design active and intelligent materials. Such materials, that can move and think autonomously, are used for example in robotics, smart sensoring, and smart prosthetics.
One PhD student of the consortium will be based at the VU, while a Postdoc working on emergence in social science will spend an extended period at the VU math department.
NWA
A total of nine consortia have received funding for research within the program line 'Research along Routes by Consortia' (ORC) of the National Science Agenda (NWA). Each consortium will work on a project centered around a theme from the NWA routes. In these projects, researchers collaborate with knowledge partners and societal organizations.
The foundation for the creation and renewal of the National Science Agenda lies with citizens. In the NWA program, connecting society and science is essential. Governments, researchers, societal organizations, and citizens jointly develop and utilize knowledge to achieve scientific and societal impact. Through science communication, knowledge is shared within society to increase involvement in and trust of science.