David C. Krakauer is an American scientist and author celebrated for his work in complexity science and collective computation. He holds the title of President and William H. Miller Professor of Complex Systems at the Santa Fe Institute, an interdisciplinary research institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the SFI Press. His scholarly journey spans computer science and mathematics at Royal Holloway, University of London, through a DPhil in evolutionary theory at the University of Oxford (completed in 1995). Krakauer’s research asks the big questions: How did life and intelligence evolve? What ties bind physical law, biology, language, and the dynamic systems of society? He investigates how systems—whether cells, brains, languages, or institutions—solve problems across layers of complexity.
Beyond his institutional roles, Krakauer is a prolific author and thinker who writes for both academic and broader audiences. His books—such as The Complex World: An Introduction to the Foundations of Complexity Science—invite readers into an emerging paradigm that challenges simple, linear models of nature and culture. He has also contributed essays and commentary exploring topics from intelligence and emergence to technological change and cultural evolution. With his blend of rigorous modelling and accessible reflection, Krakauer plays a key role in translating the deep questions of complexity into ideas that resonate broadly—especially in a world increasingly described as “complex.”
