Explore the complexities of social learning and decision-making in this thought-provoking talk by Mirta Galesic, SFI Professor & Cowan Chair in Human Social Dynamics. Delve into how simple cognitive mechanisms interact with social and physical environments to produce complex social phenomena. Gain insights into coping with uncertainty and complexity in everyday decisions. Examine the role of social networks in shaping decision-making strategies, from following the majority to trusting experts. Discover the implications of these processes for collective problem-solving in governance, science, and private life. Investigate the conditions under which crowds can be smarter than individuals and learn about the flow of information through human networks. Understand the importance of social science in addressing the challenges of modern life at scale. Explore topics such as the Friendship Paradox, imperfect measurement, collective computation, uncertainty in decision-making, planetary governance, and the combinatorial nature of innovation. Gain valuable perspectives on political messaging, ideology, and social values in this comprehensive examination of human social dynamics. Read more