Abstract
The Santa Fe Institute, founded in 1984, is an independent research and education institution devoted to the multidisciplinary study of complex systems. Research on complex adaptive systems involves an extraordinary range of topics normally studied in seemingly disparate fields. Natural systems displaying complex adaptive behavior range upwards from DNA through cells and evolutionary systems to human societies. Research models exhibiting complex behavior include spin glasses, cellular automata, and genetic algorithms. Independent-agent based computational models are central to the exploration of complex adaptive systems in the search for universal principles. The Institute's research program is founded on the premise that there are common principles that determine the behavior of complex systems.
