Lecture: “From Boiling Water to a Trot Turning into a Gallop: How Can Universal Signs Help Us Anticipate Abrupt Changes?” UM Thursdays

March 30, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Charles Flahault Amphitheater – Institute of Botany. Tram Line 1 – Albert 1 Stop^er
Lecture led by Julien Lagarde, Associate Professor (HDR) at the UFR STAPS, EuroMov Laboratory, University of Montpellier
What do boiling water, an epileptic seizure, walking turning into running, and the extinction of an animal species have in common? All these changes are abrupt, occur in very different situations, and yet they share many similarities. They are described as critical, sudden phenomena that seem elusive and unpredictable.
However, whether these phenomena are physical and non-living or biological and living, such sudden changes are preceded by warning signs. These early indicators are universal and common to the wide variety of systems in which they occur.
Through numerous examples of this type of change—found in human and animal movements, brain activity, and ecosystems—their surprising commonalities will be identified.

"UM Thursdays"

The University of Montpellier, with its eight faculties, six institutes, and one school, is home to a wealth of instructors andProfessors a wide range of academic fields. To highlight their work, the university has launched a new lecture series: “UM Thursdays.”
These events will take place once a month. Variety of topics / variety of venues: these events are designed as a journey through the different parts of UM, so that everyone can discover and discuss academic topics made accessible to all.