Personal profile
Research overview
My research is focused on developing mathematical and computational models to study the dynamics of social learning in online information ecosystems. I study a wide range of problems from simple replicator dynamics to complex collective decisions, with projects spanning Mathematical Biology and Computational Social Science. Much of my recent work has focused on how the cultural evolution of human behaviour interacts with algorithms to produce problems such as misinformation, polarization and echochambers. I am also interested in the cultural evolution of cooperation and social behaviour more broadly, in particular the role of cognitive capacity in shaping the evolution of social interactions. The tools I use are mostly drawn from game theory and mathematical models of population dynamics. My personal website can be found here: http://alexanderjstewart.org. My Google Scholar page is here: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Z3-RzE0AAAAJ&hl=en
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Mathematical Biology, University College London
1 Oct 2006 → 1 Mar 2010
Award Date: 1 Mar 2010
Master of Research, Mathematical Biology, University College London
1 Oct 2005 → 1 Oct 2006
Award Date: 1 Sept 2006
Master of Science, Physics, Imperial College London
1 Oct 2001 → 1 Jun 2005
Award Date: 1 Jun 2005
Keywords
- QH301 Biology
- Mathematical Biology
- Evolution
- JA Political science (General)
- Polarization
- H Social Sciences (General)
- Cultural Evolution
- Q Science (General)
- Game Theory
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Information gerrymandering and undemocratic decisions
Stewart, A. J., Mosleh, M., Diakonova, M., Arechar, A. A., Rand, D. G. & Plotkin, J. B., 4 Sept 2019, In: Nature. 573, 7772, p. 117-121 5 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review
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The coercive logic of fake news
Stewart, A. J., Arechar, A. A., Rand, D. G. & Plotkin, J. B., 31 Aug 2021, (Submitted) New York, NY: arXiv, 46 p.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
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From extortion to generosity, evolution in the Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma
Stewart, A. J. & Plotkin, J. B., 17 Sept 2013, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110, 38, p. 15348-53 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Inequality, identity, and partisanship: how redistribution can stem the tide of mass polarization
Stewart, A. J., Plotkin, J. & McCarty, N., 14 Dec 2021, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 118, 50, 9 p., e2102140118.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Polarization under rising inequality and economic decline
Stewart, A. J., McCarty, N. & Bryson, J. J., 11 Dec 2020, In: Science Advances. 6, 50, 9 p., eabd4201.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Datasets
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Incorporating Computational Challenges into a Multidisciplinary Course on Stochastic Processes (code)
Stewart, A. J. (Creator), GitHub, 2021
https://github.com/josic/stochastic_process_bio
Dataset: Software
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Simulation code - The Natural Selection of Good Science
Stewart (Creator), Zenodo, 2021
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4616768, https://zenodo.org/api/records/4616768
Dataset
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Eco-evolutionary trade-offs in the dynamics of prion strain competition (code)
Stewart, A. J. (Creator), GitHub, 2023
https://github.com/seacevedo/eco-evolutionary-prion-competition
Dataset: Software
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Encouraging Collective Action: Encouraging Collective Action Via The Cultural Evolution Of Interdependence
Stewart, A. J. (PI)
1/01/23 → 30/06/24
Project: Standard
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Cultural Evolution and the Online Social: Cultural Evolution and the Online Social Contract
Stewart, A. J. (PI)
1/02/22 → 31/01/25
Project: Standard
Activities
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Diverse Intelligences Summit
Stewart, A. J. (Participant)
17 Jul 2023 → 20 Jul 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a conference
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Inequality, Identity and Influence
Stewart, A. J. (Speaker)
12 Jun 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Information Gerrymandering in Social Networks
Stewart, A. J. (Speaker)
9 May 2023 → 10 May 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Inequality, Identity and Influence: Models for the Onset and Resolution of Affective Polarization
Stewart, A. J. (Speaker)
17 Apr 2023 → 21 Apr 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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The Future of Mathematical Social Science
Stewart, A. J. (Organiser)
10 Apr 2023 → 11 Apr 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organising a workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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How stereotyping increases during economic crises
26/09/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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What Does Political Polarisation Mean for Universities?
8/03/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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Here’s what happens when political bubbles collide
4/09/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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New take on game theory offers clues on why we cooperate
11/03/15
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Relating to Research