John L. Casti

John L. Casti is an accomplished mathematician, systems theorist, and author known for his interdisciplinary work bridging science, social behavior, and complex systems. He has authored over 120 scientific articles and seven technical monographs, including the award-winning "Alternate Realities: Mathematical Models of Nature and Man" and "Reality Rules," both published by Wiley. His later works, such as "Mood Matters: From Rising Skirt Lengths to the Collapse of World Powers" and "X-EVENTS: The Collapse of Everything," explore the intersection of social dynamics, human behavior, and extreme events, garnering international recognition with translations into 15 languages.

Casti's career spans academia, research institutions, and entrepreneurship. After earning his Ph.D. under Richard Bellman at the University of Southern California, he held positions at the RAND Corporation, Princeton University, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). A pioneer in complexity science, he co-founded The Kenos Circle and later established The X-Center, a global network researching human-caused extreme events. His work integrates mathematical modeling with social and behavioral sciences, addressing themes like collective decision-making and systemic risk.

Beyond his technical contributions, Casti has served as editor for journals such as "Applied Mathematics & Computation" and "Complexity." His entrepreneurial ventures include Qforma, Inc. and SimWorld, Ltd., which applied systems theory to business and healthcare challenges. Currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Stevens Institute of Technology, he continues to investigate the underlying mechanisms of societal shifts and large-scale disruptions.