About this course: The first course of the specialization ANALYZING COMPLEXITY will teach you what unifying patterns lie at the core of all complex problems. It advances your knowledge of your own field by teaching you to look at it in new ways. ANALYZING COMPLEXITY is constructed in the following way: Week I. "What is Complexity?" - What is at the core of all complex problems Week II. "Complex Physical Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in the inanimate world Week III. "Complex Adaptive Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in nature Week IV. "Complex Cultural Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in human society Week V. "Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown" - Why complex problems arise Week VI. "Complexity in the Anthropocene" - What complex problems face us today
Who is this class for: This course is for everyone: from any level of expertise, any field, any industry, any discipline. And for good reason. It teaches skills that enhance your work and endeavours, regardless of who you are. If you want to perform better in your career, to innovate in your field, and to improve your future prospects - take this course!
Created by: Macquarie University
Taught by: David Baker, Associate Lecturer
Big History Institute
Taught by: David Christian, Professor
Big History Institute
Taught by: Shawn Ross, Associate Professor
Big History Institute
| Basic Info | Course 1 of 4 in the Solving Complex Problems Specialization |
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
What is complexity?
Welcome to the first course of our specialisation on solving complex problems! In this module, we will be looking at complexity in the broadest sense and how it relates to us. From there we will zoom in to different aspects of this universal and all-encompassing concept.
5 videos, 8 readings
- Reading: Specialisation Assessment Overview
- Reading: A Preview of the Briefing Paper Assignment
- Reading: Assessment Overview for Course 1: Analysing Complexity
- Video: Defining Complexity as a Concept
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complexity and Energy Flows
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complex Systems
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Assessments - Specialisation Overview
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 1
Graded: Short writing for Module 1: What is complexity?
WEEK 2
Complex Physical Systems
In this module, we'll look at how complexity operates in the inanimate universe, the corresponding links between physics, chemistry, and geology and how they reflect the ground rules of all forms of complexity.
5 videos, 9 readings
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Cosmic Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Chemical Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Planetary Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complex Physical Systems
- Reading: Glossary
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 2
Graded: Short writing for Module 2: Complex physical systems
WEEK 3
Complex Adaptive Systems
In this module, we'll explore the ratcheting up of complexity inside adaptive systems, and the impact adaptation has on the rules of the game for constantly evolving complex systems.
6 videos, 11 readings
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Dissipative Structures
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Cellular Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Complexity of Brains
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complex Ecosystems
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Adaptive Systems and Ecosystems
- Reading: Glossary
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 3
Graded: Short writing for Module 3: Complex adaptive systems
WEEK 4
Complex Cultural Systems
In this module, we'll look at an even more powerful adaptive system - culture. We'll survey what is at the root of this new form of complexity and how this impacts our thinking about how human society, the most complex system of which we are aware, functions and evolves.
6 videos, 11 readings
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Evolution of Language
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Social Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Linguistic Complexity
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complexity Wealth and Consumption
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Complex Cultural Systems
- Reading: Glossary
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 4
Graded: Short writing for Module 4: Social complexity
WEEK 5
Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown
In this module, we'll look at the decline of complexity. So far we've focused on how complex systems sustain or increase themselves. In order to truly understand every angle of all complex systems - physical, biological, and cultural - we need to understand how and when they collapse, and what all those breakdowns have in common.
7 videos, 13 readings
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Breakdown of Stars and the Universe
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Breakdown of Organic Chemicals
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Breakdown of Species
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Breakdown of Societies
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Breakdown of Economies
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Fragility and Collapse
- Reading: Glossary
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 5
Graded: Short writing for Module 5: Limits to complexity
WEEK 6
Complexity in the Anthropocene
Now that we've explored the different kinds of complex systems and have some idea of the risks and dangers involved, this module will look at how these concerns impact us in the present Anthropocene epoch, where humanity faces many threats of decline and collapse amid the most complex system that we know of in the visible universe.
6 videos, 9 readings
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Measuring Sustainability in the Anthropocene
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Global Politics in the Anthropocene
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Population Health in the Anthropocene
- Reading: Resources
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: Increasing Complexity and the Anthropocene
- Reading: Glossary
- Video: The Final Assignment
Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 6
Graded: Short writing for Module 6: Complexity in the Anthropocene
Graded: Final assignment for Course 1: Analysing Complexity
FAQs
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Macquarie University
Macquarie is a hub of inspired and unconstrained thinking. Macquarie was founded with a unique purpose: to bring minds together unhindered by tradition. Created to challenge the education establishment, Macquarie has a rich track record of innovation. Macquarie actively shapes the complex issues that define the future of humanity.
Pricing
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| Access to course materials | Available |
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| Receive a final grade | Available |
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Ratings and Reviews
I loved this course. Very interesting from an holistic point of view. We get to learn and to get a big picture of the World's history since the very first beginnings. Congratulations to the Big History Institute and to Macquarie University! It's well worth it.
You should study Complexity from this course if you are interesting in complex system.
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Even though I have studied complexity, and had journal articles published on the subject, this course is admirably clear and promises to be the first part of a really practical insight into solving a particular problem - or at least, suggesting innovative approaches to it.