Complex Adaptive Systems
What you'll learn
- The aim of this course is to give you a solid grasp of the core concepts within the domain of complex adaptive systems theory
- By the end of the course you should be familiar with and be able to apply the most important models from complexity theory
Requirements
- There are no prerequisites to this course aside for a firm grasp of the english language and a basic level of general scientific knowledge
Description
Complex adaptive systems are all around us from financial markets to ecosystems to the human immune system and even civilization itself, they consist of many agents that are acting and reacting to each other's behavior, out of this often chaotic set of interactions emerges global patterns of organization in a dynamic world of constant change and evolution where nothing is fixed.
In these complex adaptive systems no one is in control, no one has complete information, patterns of order emerge through self-organization between agents. Individual cells self-organize to form differentiated body organs, ants interact and self-organize to form colonies, and people interact to form social networks. These patterns of global organization emerge out of a dynamic between order and chaos that we are only just beginning to understand but as we do we are finding that these apparently very dissimilar systems share fundamental commonalities.
The aim of this course is to give a comprehensive, clear and accessible outline to the new area of complex adaptive systems that is finding application in many areas. We will be covering all the main topics within this domain, as we start by talking about adaptation itself where we will be discussing cybernetics and looking at how systems regulate themselves to respond to change. We'll go on to talk about the dynamics of cooperation and competition, looking at how and why agents work together to create local patterns of organization. Next we will be talking about the process of self-organization and asking the big questions about how do we get and sustain ordered patterns out of randomness and chaos? Lastly we will be looking at the process of evolution as a powerful and relentless force that shapes complex adaptive systems on the macro scale and we will be taking it apart to get a solid grasp of its basic functioning.
This course requires no prior specific knowledge of mathematics or science, it is designed as an introduction presenting concepts in a nonmathematical and intuitive form that should be accessible to anyone with an interest in the subject
Who this course is for:
- This course is intended for a broad group of people but will be particularly relevant for those with a background in math or science
Instructor
- 4.3 Instructor Rating
- 3,665 Reviews
- 10,761 Students
- 30 Courses
Systems Innovation is an online platform dedicated to the area of complex systems and systems change, our mission is to take the world of complexity and make it accessible to all. Systems and complex can be intimidating subjects with many sophisticated concepts, this is why we believe it is important to always start with the most essential, simplest elements of a subject making sure that students come away with a solid understanding of the core concepts behind each area. As Einstein said "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler"
Courses are curated and presented by Joss Colchester. Joss has extensive experience within the domain of complex systems both within academic research(mathematical modeling of complex system + network analysis) and has many years of practical systems engineering experience(designing and developing complex web-based information systems). He has a passion for taking abstract and complex concepts and making them concrete and accessible to as broad an audience as possible by combining clear and effective graphics with well-structured course content.