Innovation

When Charles Darwin postulated biological limits to evolution and Thomas Malthus anticipated the human population overwhelming Earth's resources, neither fully appreciated the adaptive power of innovation. Novelty in form or function can improve the fitness of a biological system in its environment. Human innovation has raised Earth's carrying capacity. New ideas in technology and social systems have opened new avenues for human progress.

SFI researchers are exploring the mechanisms that drive innovation in biological, social, cultural, and technological systems. They hope to discover the universal features, principles, and theories that support and constrain system adaptation, optimization, and advancement through innovation.