Program Overview

Program Overview

The QSS/MATH 30.04 course introduces basic concepts in evolutionary game theory, including evolutionarily stable strategies, replicator dynamics, finite populations, and games on networks, along with applications to social evolution, particularly to understanding human cooperation.

Course Description

The course covers various topics, including:

• Evolutionary Games: Introduction & Overview
• Stability Concepts: Nash Equilibrium vs. Evolutionarily Stable Strategy
• Replicator Equations and Its Connection with Ecological Dynamics
• Social Dilemmas of Cooperation
• Rules for Cooperation
• Repeated Games
• Beyond Pairwise Interactions: Multi-Person Games
• Spatial Games
• Adaptive Dynamics
• Evolutionary Branching
• Finite Populations I
• Finite Population II
• Evolutionary Graph Theory
• Vaccination Dilemma
• Evolutionary Dynamics of In-group Favoritism
• Evolution of Homophily

Prerequisites

• Math 20
• Familiarity with calculus, basic concepts in probability, and ordinary differential equations
• Programming skills are helpful but not required

Teaching Format

• Asynchronous remote teaching via pre-recorded lectures
• Virtual instruction via Canvas and Zoom available for remote participation

Grading Formula

• Four Homework Problem Sets (40%)
• Final Essay (50%, an ~800-word essay on topics related to mathematical humanities)
• Flash talk based on the essay (10%)
• Optional final project track in place of the final essay track, requiring a significant component of using quantitative methods and a final report (~15 pages) written in the format of a scientific paper

Important Dates

• Final essay/project proposal due on: 20 April 2021
• Homework problem sets due biweekly
• Final essay/project presentations: in the week of 24 May 2021 (week 9)
• Final essay/final project report due on: 6 June 2021
• Course withdrawal deadlines:
  • 10 May 2021: Final day for dropping a 4th course
  • 19 May 2021: Final day to withdraw from a course

Course Policies

Class Recording Notifications to Students

• Consent to recording of course meetings and office hours that are open to multiple students
• Requirement of consent to one-on-one recordings

Honor Principle

• Collaborations during closed-book exams and quizzes are strictly prohibited
• Any form of plagiarism is not allowed in the final project

Student Accessibility and Accommodations

• Students requesting disability-related accommodations and services are encouraged to schedule a phone/Zoom meeting with the instructor as early in the term as possible

Student Religious Observances

• If you have a religious observance that conflicts with your participation in the course, please meet with the instructor before the end of the second week of the term to discuss appropriate accommodations

Mental Health and Wellness

• The instructor encourages you to use available resources on campus to support your wellness

Late Policy

• Please request appropriate accommodations if you expect delays in turning in your assignments
• A penalty for turning in the final project report late (5% each additional day) will be applied, with a maximum 4-day extension granted on a case-by-case basis

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Professor Feng Fu, Mathematics Department, Dartmouth College
• Registrar Scheduled Course Time: TuThu 10:20am-12:10pm (x-hour Friday 4:00pm-4:50pm)
• Office Hours: Tue 2:00pm-4:00pm, Thu 10:20am-12:10pm, Fri 4:00pm-4:50pm and by appointment
• Office: 210 Kemeny Hall

Suggested Textbooks

• Nowak, M. A. (2006). Evolutionary dynamics. Harvard University Press
• Sigmund, K. (2010). The calculus of selfishness. Princeton University Press

Syllabus

The course syllabus is subject to change and will be updated as necessary. The instructor will provide a tentative lecture plan, which may be modified during the term.