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

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 of 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 nonliving or biological and living, these sudden changes are preceded by warning signs. These early indicators are universal and common to the wide variety of systems in which they appear.
Through numerous examples of these types of changes—observed in human and animal movements, in brain activity, and in ecosystems—their surprising commonalities will be identified.

"UM's Thursdays"

The University of Montpellier, with its eight faculties, six institutes, and one school, is home to a wealth of faculty andProfessors in a wide variety of fields of study. The university sought to highlight them by offering a unique lecture series: “Jeudis de l’UM .”
The lectures will be held once a month. A variety of topics and venues: these events are designed as a journey through the departments of the “UM,” so that everyone can discover and discuss academic topics presented in a way that is accessible to all.