Horizon Academic is pleased to share that students can now apply for our latest research track: Network Science. This course will be led by University of Cambridge Assistant Professor, Dr. Edoardo Gallo. Given the popularity of Dr. Gallo's Behavioral Economics course amongst students, coupled with increasing requests from high schoolers who wish to gain more familiarity before starting their university studies in finance, economic public policy, business, politics, etc, this course was crafted to meet such needs through the practice of conducting independent research. The Network Science course will only be offered in the summer terms so interested students are encouraged to apply before the Summer 2024 Seminar application deadline, May 21, to avoid any disappointment of having to wait until the following summer.

The course introduces students to the science of networks. This area of research has emerged in the last two decades and it has introduced a set of tools for scientists to incorporate network structure in the analysis of individual behaviour and economic outcomes. Topic coverage ranges from the formation of networks and the provision of local public goods to coordination, learning, trading, and financial networks. A central focus of the course is the interplay between theory and experiments.

Potential research questions include, but are not limited to, the ones listed below. Students are always welcome to take these as a point of inspiration in order to propose a new research topic.

1. How do linkages amongst financial institutions help to explain the 2008 financial crisis?

2. How do innovations spread in social networks?

3. How can social networks help us to understand the COVID--19 pandemic?

4. How does social network position determine employees' performance in organizations?

5. Why are children from rich parents more likely to graduate at university?

6. How do social networks matter to determine who gets a job?

7. Why are networks important for trading?

8. What is the role of networks in the spread of fake news?

9. What role can networks play in public health policy?

10. How do social networks help to provide informal insurance in developing countries?

11. How can we prevent the disruption of supply chain networks?

12. What is the role of networks in elections?