Abstract: Prof. Watts's work has reshaped the scientific understanding of the dynamics of social influence, challenging the conventional wisdom that focused on the attributes of “influencers” and pointing instead to the structural factors—as well as accidents—that affect the spread of new ideas, technical innovations, and even disease. He was one of the first to recognize and utilize the opportunities in web-enabled platforms through controlled experiments, allowing for larger and more diverse populations than would be possible under traditional settings. One innovative study, which examined downloads of music in multiple “worlds,” revealed that highly predictable outcomes based on social influence lead us to place too much confidence in “common sense” meanings we attribute to patterns. In fact, these are far less predictable in any particular world.

Bio: The Program for Andrew D. White Professors-at-Large announces the formal campus visit by Duncan Watts (2013-2019), who is considered to be among the vanguard in the area of network theory. Currently, he is Principal Researcher and founding member of Microsoft Research Lab in Manhattan. Prior to this assignment, he moved to Yahoo Research in 2007 where he directed the Human Social Dynamics Group and before that he taught sociology at Columbia University (2000-2007) where he received a full professorship (2007-2009). This his final visit under the auspices of his professorship.

For more information contact adwhitepal@cornell.edu or 255-0832, or visit the Program website at http://adwhiteprofessors.cornell.edu.