Course Description

This course will introduce the concept of complexity examining both the methods used in complexity science and examples of complexity found in nature and everyday life. Complexity science is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to explore the behaviour of strongly interacting systems made of simple components with no central control. It represents a new framework for science as a departure from a reductionist or “bottom-up” framework in favour of a “top-down” or systems level framework. We will explore the story of Mandelbrot and the beautiful patterns of fractals. An introduction of chaos will show how scientific measurement and prediction can fail even in simple examples. We will show how patterns can emerge and discuss the concept of computational irreducibility and computational equivalence with a study of cellular automata. With the tools of networks, we will see the role of science in dealing with global issues such as the intricate relationships between humanity and the global environment. We will explore our everyday lives through the study of social networks, learning and urban ecology. Finally, this course will bring us to the frontiers of sciences as we learn how complexity shapes our current understanding of the global climate, ecological characteristics and animal behaviours.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify complexity in the global society in multiple fields ranging from biology to physics.
2. Utilize the methods of complexity theory to propose possible solutions to unsolved problems.
3. Explain the key differences between systems based approaches and reductionism.
4. Evaluate how complexity is shaping the interaction between humanity and the global environment.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Wed)