Dr. Duncan Watts

Biography

Duncan Watts is the Stevens University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, holding faculty appointments in the Department of Computer and Information Science and the Annenberg School of Communication. He is also the inaugural Rowan Fellow at Wharton and has been a principal researcher at Microsoft, contributing significantly to the field of network science. A noted author, Watts has published critically acclaimed books including 'Six Degrees: The Science of Connected Age' and 'Small Worlds: The Dynamics of Networks between Order and Randomness.' His research focuses on social networks and collective dynamics, with publications in prestigious journals such as Nature, Science, and the Harvard Business Review. He has received numerous awards, including the German Physical Society Young Scientist Award and the Lagrange-CRT Foundation Prize. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. in Physics from the Australian Defence Force Academy, followed by a Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from Cornell University. Watts has also held positions at Cornell University and Columbia University, making significant contributions to understanding human social dynamics and behavior.

Research Interests