Matjaž Perc
A physicist who maps the hidden rules of human crowds, disease spread, and social networks, making complexity science accessible and impactful.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Professor of Physics at the University of Maribor·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Matjaž Perc works in the spaces where physics meets society. As a professor in Slovenia, he has built a global reputation for using the tools of statistical physics and network theory to decode complex systems, from the spread of fake news online to the evolution of cooperation in human groups. His research is characterized by elegant models that reveal universal principles behind seemingly chaotic social and biological phenomena. This ability to bridge disciplines has made his work highly influential, landing him consistently among the world's most-cited physicists. Beyond academia, he is a dedicated communicator, ensuring his findings on topics like vaccination strategies or crowd dynamics are reported widely, influencing public discourse. Leading the Complex Systems Center in Maribor, Perc fosters a research environment where abstract theory is constantly tested against the messy, fascinating patterns of real human behavior.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matjaž was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matjaž Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matjaž's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher, placing him in the top 1% of most-cited physicists globally for multiple years.
- Elected as a member of Academia Europaea, a pan-European academy of humanities, letters, and sciences.
- Awarded the Young Scientist Award for Socio-and Econophysics by the German Physical Society in 2015.
Did You Know?
He maintains a highly active and widely-followed Twitter account where he shares insights on science, academia, and research.
His work on the evolution of cooperation has been applied in fields as diverse as economics, political science, and biology.
He serves as the editor-in-chief of the journal 'Applied Network Science.'
“Complex systems, from viruses to rumors, follow the same mathematical rules.”
