Organizer
Collaborating partner
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“The next century will be the century of complexity.” – Stephen Hawking
The HKU Complex Networks Lab is proud to host this two-day interdisciplinary workshop at the University of Hong Kong to bring together researchers working at the frontiers of network theory and interdisciplinary applications of networks.
Network science has emerged as a powerful framework for understanding complex systems across diverse domains including social sciences, biology, transportation, and information systems. This workshop will explore cutting-edge research in network theory, computational methods, and real-world applications.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with world-class speakers, present their own research, and participate in collaborative sessions designed to identify new research directions and potential partnerships. The workshop is designed for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners interested in advancing the field of network science.
Keynote Speakers
City University of Hong Kong
IT:U Austria
Prof Guodong LI
Prof Guodong LI
Invited Talks
Shenzhen University
Dr Gangmin Son
Korea Institute for Advanced Study
Prof Difan ZOU
HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science
School of Computing and Data Science
Prof Jean-Gabriel Young
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
The University of Vermont
Dr Yue XIE
Prof Difan ZOU
HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science
School of Computing and Data Science
HKU Speakers
Prof Yi MA
Director, HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science
Director, HKU School of Computing and Data Science
Professor, Chair of Artificial Intelligence
Prof Guodong Li
Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science and
Professor, School of Computing and Data Science
Prof Qingpeng Zhang
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy
Prof Alec Kirkley
Department of Urban Planning and Design
Prof Shihui Feng
Assistant Professor
Academic Unit of Human Communication, Development, and Information Sciences
Faculty of Education
Prof Difan ZOU
HKU Musketeers Foundation Institute of Data Science
School of Computing and Data Science
Programme
28 Aug, 2025 (Thu)
Morning Session
| 08:45 – 09:30 |
Registration |
| 09:30 – 09:35 |
Opening Remarks by Prof Ma |
| 09:35 – 10:35 |
Keynote 1City University of Hong KongProf Guanrong (Ron) ChenOptimal synchronization of higher-order complex networksAbstractIn this talk, we introduce a simplex-based approach to studying higher-order complex network optimal synchronization beyond the conventional node-edge-based graph-theoretic methods, revealing a synchronization criterion using the Euler characteristic index which is consistent with the conventional Laplacian eigenvalue measure. We first introduce the concept of simplexes and their elementary operations, with the Euler characteristic index presented. Then, we review the optimal network synchronization problem, with the Laplacian eigenvalue-based criterion presented. Finally, we show that the optimal synchronization criterion of complex networks can be equivalently verified by using the Laplacian eigenvalues and the Euler characteristic index. By the end, we will briefly explore some potential applications of the higher-order network topological methodologies, such as modelling network spread dynamics. |
| 10:35 – 10:50 |
Coffee Break |
| 10:50 – 11:20 |
Invited Talk 1University of VermontProf Jean-Gabriel YoungIndependent cascades in clustered graphs |
| 11:20 – 11:50 |
Invited Talk 2University of Hong KongProf Qingpeng ZhangData organization limits the predictability of binary classification |
Afternoon Session
| 13:20 – 13:50 |
Invited Talk 3Shenzhen UniversityProf Hao LiaoStrategic Influence Maximization from Network Science perspective |
| 13:50 – 14:20 |
Invited Talk 4Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityProf Lin WangControllability of Large-Scale Networked Systems |
| 14:20 – 14:35 |
Coffee Break |
| 14:35 – 15:05 |
Invited Talk 5Fudan UniversityProf Xiang LiOn Sync and Chimera of Higher-order Networks and Beyond |
| 15:05 – 15:35 |
Invited Talk 6Korea UniversityProf Kwang-Il GohStatistical physics on random hypergraphs |
| 15:35 – 16:05 |
Lab SpotlightRecent Research from the HKU Complex Networks Lab |
| 16:05 onwards |
Panel DiscussionGuanrong Chen, Tiago Peixoto, Kwang-Il Goh, Xiang Li, George CantwellGoing Beyond AI: Why Data Science Needs Complex Systems and Network Science |
29 Aug, 2025 (Fri)
Morning Session
| 09:30 – 09:35 |
Welcome & Recap |
| 09:35 – 10:35 |
Keynote 2IT:U AustriaProf Tiago PeixotoReconstructing complex networks from dynamics and behavior |
| 10:35 – 10:50 |
Coffee Break |
| 10:50 – 11:20 |
Invited Talk 7University of CambridgeProf George CantwellRanking and comparison |
| 11:20 – 11:50 |
Invited Talk 8Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen)Prof Yi ZhaoStudy on higher-order propagation behaviors in networks based on simplicial complexes |
Afternoon Session
| 13:20 – 13:50 | Invited Talk 9Korea Institute for Advanced Study Dr Gangmin Son
Phase Transitions in the Simplicial Ising Model on Hypergraphs |
| 13:50 – 14:20 | Invited Talk 10Southeast University Prof Wenwu Yu
Theories and Applications of Distributed Optimization in Networks |
| 14:20 – 14:35 | Coffee Break |
| 14:35 – 15:05 | Invited Talk 11University of Hong Kong Prof Shihui FengNodes and Edges in Education: A Network Science Approach to Educational Research |
| 15:05 – 15:35 | Invited Talk 12University of Hong Kong Prof Guodong Li |
| 15:35 onwards | Panel DiscussionQingpeng Zhang, Jean-Gabriel Young, Lin Wang, Shihui Feng Emerging Opportunities for Interdisciplinary Applications of Network Science |
Registration
Registration Deadline:
on or before 23:59 HKT on August 22, 2025 (Fri)
For enquiry, please contact us at datascience@hku.hk.