COBASC is a research group, which analyzes complex social dynamics by means of computer simulations; the aim is to discover general social regularities and express them in a mathematical manner. The methods used by COBASC are mainly those of Soft Computing, i.e., cellular automata, Boolean nets, fuzzy methods, evolutionary algorithms, hybrid systems, i.e., couplings of different methods, and artificial neural nets.

"Social" is understood in a rather broad sense. It also includes cognitive and economical processes because social actions are always determined by cognitive and economical factors.

The permanent core of COBASC are Jürgen Klüver (head), Christina Klüver (former Christina Stoica) and Jörn Schmidt. Younger scientists regularly join COBASC in order to write their Master thesis or PhD-thesis according to the general research goals of COBASC. It is a research group of the department of economics of the University of Duisburg-Essen, Campus Essen. 

COBASC exists since 1990. The subjects of the studies by the members of COBASC are rather wide-spread: among others there are studies in ordering parameters of formal systems, e.g. cellular automata and Boolean nets on the one hand, and in meta parameters of adaptive systems on the other hand, the investigation of the interdependencies between the topology of complex systems and their dynamics, the explanation of certain cognitive processes via the analysis of the topology of cognitive networks, and the modelling and simulation of socio-cultural processes. One great quest is the search for general laws in socio-cultural evolution and cognitive ontogenesis.

The members of COBASC are not only doing research but are also interested in the possibilities our programs offer for higher education in the social sciences, computer science and economics. Therefore we developed together with several of our students shells of cellular automata, Boolean networks, evolutionary algorithms (genetic algorithms and evolutionary strategies), and different types of artificial neural nets. Scientists and students, who do not wish to construct own programs, may use these shells to do simulation experiments of their own. Potential users are invited to contact the members of COBASC.