I work with various people around the University and beyond. Here are a few of them.

1. •Condensed Matter Research Group➚ – I am based within this research group, whose activities span the physics of materials under extreme conditions, soft matter, biological materials, statistical physics and computational modelling. Do follow the above link if you would be interested in joining this research group. I currently organise weekly discussions on theoretical topics in this area: a schedule➚ is available.
   

2. •Edinburgh Complexity➚ – We are in the process of forming a collaboration of researchers interested in complex systems. We will be starting a seminar series at the start of 2008, and are in the process of putting together a wiki which allows interested parties to keep each other abreast of what’s going on in their departments. Do help us out by registering and contributing.
   

3. •NANIA➚ – “Novel Approaches to Networks of Interacting Autonomes”. This is a collaboration between physicists, life, earth and social scientists at Edinburgh, Manchester and East Anglia. I am helping to organise a big public meeting at the Royal Society of Edinburgh on September 11th 2008, which will be followed by a two day academic conference. Details will be posted on the NANIA website as they become available.
   

4. •LiPhE➚ – “Life Physics at Edinburgh”. Our understanding of physical systems is starting to encompass length-scales and processes that are of relevance to biology. We call this area of overlap “Life Physics” and are developing collaborations here.
   

5. •LEC➚ – The “Language Evolution and Computation” Research Unit. My work on language change brought me into contact with these people who have lots of exciting ideas about the origins and evolution of language.
   

6. •Physics by the Lake➚ – For a while now I’ve been involved with this annual summer school in Condensed Matter Theory. Attendance for UK ESPRC PhD Students is free, and any others getting to grips with Condensed Matter Matter are strongly encouraged to come too.