
About NICO
NICO's mission is to incubate innovative collaborations that leverage complexity, networks, and artificial intelligence to address societal challenges. The Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO) was founded in 2004 with the goals of uncovering fundamental principles that govern complex systems in science, technology, and human behavior.
NICO is a collaboration between the McCormick School of Engineering and the Kellogg School of Management.
Announcements
The lastest news and events from the NICO.


Daniel Abrams Named NICO Codirector
Daniel Abrams has been named co-director of the Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems (NICO), effective February 1, 2023, succeeding Luís A.N. Amaral.

NICO Interdisciplinary Research Networking Luncheon Groups
Networking luncheons have been meeting since 2017 to facilitate networking among faculty, stimulate discussion of significant and emerging research areas, and advance interdisciplinary research.
Apply to Open Positions at NICO
NICO is seeking exceptional candidates for Post Doctoral Fellows and research assistance in computational social science, science of science, and complex systems.
News & Events
News
Nature Might Have a Universal Rhythm
In a new study published in PLOS Biology, NICO researchers Guy Amichay and Daniel Abrams find that communication signals across a wide range of species tend to repeat at about 2 hertz, or roughly two beats per second.
ScienceAdviser: The uneven toll of NIH grant cuts
Cuts to NIH grants in 2025 hit women researchers harder than male investigators, according to research by Brian Uzzi and colleagues, published in PNAS.
AI Agents are ‘Aeroplanes for the Mind’: Five Ways to Ensure that Scientists are Responsible Pilots
As artificial-intelligence systems take on more of the scientific workflow, the central goal should not be complete automation, but designing platforms that preserve creativity, responsibility and surprise, writes Dashun Wang in Nature.
The Recipe for Innovation? An Alliance Between Art and Science
Breaking down barriers between disciplines such as art and science is a key component to innovation, says Julio M Ottino. Business leaders play a role in this by fostering a culture of curiosity.
Upcoming Events
Data Science Nights - APRIL 2026 - Speaker: Joshua Stadlan, NICO ...
April 30
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
WED@NICO SEMINAR: Daniel Stouffer, Leibniz Institute "Conceptual ...
May 6
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
WED@NICO SEMINAR: Hamsa Bastani, Wharton School, University of Pe...
May 13
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
WED@NICO SEMINAR: Lightning Talks with NU Scholars!
May 20
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Connect with NICO

NICO Listserv
Subscribe to the NICO Listserv and receive information about the Wednesdays@NICO Speaker Series, Data Science Nights, and other NICO news and events.

NICO Reading Group
The NICO reading group meets regularly over lunch to discuss recent papers, fundamentals, and emerging trends in complexity research.






