Opinion dynamics and synchronization in a network of scientific collaborations

In this paper we discuss opinion dynamics in the opinion changing rate (OCR) model, recently proposed in Pluchino et al. [Int. J. Mod. Phys. C 16(4) (2005) 515-53 1]. The OCR model allows to study whether and how a group of social agents, with a different intrinsic tendency (rate) to change opinion, finds agreement. In particular, we implement the OCR model on a small graph describing the topology of a real social system. The nodes of the graph are scientists participating in the Tepoztlan conference, celebrating Alberto Robledo's 60th birthday, and the links are based on coauthorship in scientific papers. We study how opinions evolve in time according to the frequency rates of the nodes, to the coupling term, and also to the presence of group structures. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.