WEEK ONE: CX201 Complex Physical, Biological, and Social Systems
This course offers an introduction to the essential concepts of complex systems and related mathematical methods and simulation strategies with application to physical, biological and social systems.
Concepts to be discussed include: emergence, complexity, networks, self-organization, pattern formation, evolution, adaptation, fractals, chaos, cooperation, competition, attractors, interdependence, scaling, dynamic response, information and function. Methods to be discussed include: statistical methods, cellular automata, agent-based modeling, pattern recognition, system representation and informatics.
Demonstration of the application of complex systems methods will be made through studies of:
* Social systems: education system, health care system, military system
* Psychosocial systems: patterns of social behavior, mind, creativity, awareness
* Biological systems: evolution, physiology, immune system, brain, cellular systems, genetic networks
* Physical systems: meteorology
There will be supervised group projects as an integral part of the course.
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