Statistical Physics born as an attempt to explain thermodynamic properties of systems from its atomic and molecular components has evolved into a solid body of knowledge that allows for the understanding macroscopic collective phenomena. One of the largest success of Statistical Physics has been the development of paradigms, stylized simplified models which capture the essential ingredients, for a wide variety of phenomena. These paradigms have allowed not only the understanding of the systems by themselves but also to realize that many apparently different behaviors are just different manifestations of the same collective phenomena.

The tools developed by Statistical Physics together with Dynamical Systems Theory are of key importance in the understanding of Complex Systems which are characterized by the by emergent and collective phenomena of many interacting units. In particular the understanding of small systems, in which fluctuations are typically large, benefits from Statistical Physics body of knowledge. At the same time small systems fuel the development of new techniques and provide the basis to test predictions (such as for fluctuation and work theorems) at a very deep level.

While the traditional basic body of knowledge of Statistical Physics is well described in textbooks and typically at an undergraduate or master level, the applications to Complex and Small Systems are well beyond the scope of those textbooks. The organization of a Summer School on this topics aims at bridging the gap between the master level and the necessities of PhD students working on these fields.

The Summer School open to students world wide will take place along two weeks in which there will be a total of six courses (three courses each week) on the following subjects:

First Week:

• Non-linear Dynamics and Stochastic Processes by Raúl Toral (IFISC, CSIC-UIB)
• Critical Phenomena in Complex Networks by Yamir Moreno (BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza)
• Granular Media by Diego Maza (Universidad de Navarra)

Second Week:

• Foundations of Statistical Mechanics: Fluctuations and work theorems in small systems
  by Christopher Jarzynski (University of Maryland)
• Statistical Physics of Cells and Tissues
  by Frank Jülicher (Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems)
• Statistical Physics in Social and Ecological Systems by Maxi San Miguel (IFISC, CSIC-UIB) and Cristóbal López (IFISC, CSIC-UIB)

For any information about the School, please contact.