Multiple Systems: Complexity and Coherence in Ecosystems, Collective Behavior, and Social Systems

This book presents the proceedings of the Eighth National Conference of the Italian Systems Society. The contributions underline the need for Systemics and Systems Science in order to address multiple, changing systems involving several coherent versions.

The conference focused on identifying, discussing, and understanding possible interrelationships between fundamental theoretical advances in different disciplines. Given their scope, these proceedings represent a valuable asset for all researchers whose work involves multiple systems.

Gianfranco Minati is the founder and the president of the Italian Systems Society (AIRS) and a member of the scientific committee of Conferences and Systems Societies. From 2000 to 2017, he was a doctoral lecturer at the Polytechnic of Milan, Italy. His current research interest focuses on the artificial unconscious in AI, complex systems, dynamic usage of models (DYSAM), emergence, logical openness, mesoscopic coherence, meta-structures, multiple systems, quasi-systems, theoretical incompleteness, architecture, and design as social meta-structures to influence processes of emergence in social systems.

Maria Pietronilla Penna is a full professor in General Psychology (M/PSI01) at the University of Cagliari, Italy. She is a member of the Italian Systems Society (AIRS) since the very beginning. Her current research interest focuses on artificial intelligence, neural network models, systems theory, cognitive psychology, psychophysiology, psychology of communication, man–machine interfaces, usability assessment, e-learning design, memory, perception and mental representations, connectionist models of cognitive processing, iconic memory, pattern perception, mostly in the case of ambiguous pictures, perceptive field structuring in homogeneous stimulation areas, spatial memory, movement perception, problem-solving and learning processes in school-age children, e-learning tools usability and design, text comprehension in school children, communication processes, aging, addictions, and technology use.