A complete view of complexity in science and society in a new authoritative reference work

A complete view of complexity in science and society in a new authoritative reference work: "A complete view of complexity in science and society in a new authoritative reference work
July 10th, 2009

A new unique work published by Springer, the Encyclopedia of Complexity and Systems Science, extends the influence of complexity and system science to a much wider audience than has been possible to date. In eleven volumes, available in print and electronically, it provides an authoritative single source for understanding and applying the concepts of complexity theory together with the tools and measures for analyzing complex systems in all fields of science and engineering."

Gene Network May Lead to Brain Cancer Breakthrough - ABC News

Gene Network May Lead to Brain Cancer Breakthrough - ABC News: "The finding that landscape genes appear to predict survival may also have an implication for treatment of glioblastoma, since attempts to intervene with therapies targeting single genes have not been successful.

The complexity of the landscape model 'helps explain the lack of therapeutic efficacy of strategies targeting single gene products,' the authors said."

Foundations for a New Science of Learning -- Meltzoff et al. 325 (5938): 284 -- Science

Foundations for a New Science of Learning -- Meltzoff et al. 325 (5938): 284 -- Science: "Review
Foundations for a New Science of Learning
Andrew N. Meltzoff,1,2,3,* Patricia K. Kuhl,1,3,4 Javier Movellan,5,6 Terrence J. Sejnowski5,6,7,8

Human learning is distinguished by the range and complexity of skills that can be learned and the degree of abstraction that can be achieved compared with those of other species. Homo sapiens is also the only species that has developed formal ways to enhance learning: teachers, schools, and curricula. Human infants have an intense interest in people and their behavior and possess powerful implicit learning mechanisms that are affected by social interaction. Neuroscientists are beginning to understand the brain mechanisms underlying learning and how shared brain systems for perception and action support social learning. Machine learning algorithms are being developed that allow robots and computers to learn autonomously. New insights from many different fields are converging to create a new science of learning that may transform educational practices."

OpEdNews » Consciousness and Complexity

OpEdNews » Consciousness and Complexity: "In the case of humans, we are above the threshold at which great organized social complexity emerges. Yet, we may be as cognitively limited as our ape cousins. Consider that we know scientifically, that our actions are destroying the planetary ecosystem, altering the weather, and that this global civilization is based upon ever-increasing use of ever-diminishing hydrocarbon energy resources. Our rational response to this would be to immediately take drastic actions to remedy these behavioral errors.

Yet, our material wealth, the position and power of societal elites, the very way that we have been indoctrinated to understand and interact with reality itself, is based upon preservation of the existing patterns of social order. So we as a global society, effectively do nothing. At least we do not take effective actions in a timely manner."

Health care: A need for a systems science look - Ivo P. Janecka, MD, MBA, PhD -- Seeking Alpha

Health care: A need for a systems science look - Ivo P. Janecka, MD, MBA, PhD -- Seeking Alpha: "When the financial meltdown was accelerating, there were public calls for a “look at the whole system.” That insight might have come from the clarity of vision gained through the realization that the “parachute” may not open and the “ground” was rapidly approaching. But, when the parachute did open, the clarity came out of focus; with that, the need for the larger system coherence vanished. In another word, “we have resuscitated the patient’s important organ/the financial system, but without doing any “major surgery” on the part that was seriously ill; resuscitation is only an emergency step, it’s not a corrective one. The consequence of that is that the “organ” is back to processing its toxic metabolites and heads to its eventual “disease” recurrence.

The issue with health care is much more complex because finances are only about numbers but health care is about people, human beings that actually create and maintain the economy through their productive/consumptive relationships. The whole economy is a large system as every individual is also a system in its own right fitting or not fitting into the larger societal system. Hence, the importance of really looking at health care from systems science perspective which offers guiding principle, based on biologic correlates, of function and structure."

Scotland Could be 100 per cent Renewable in only 20 Years

allmediascotland : New Report: Scotland Could be 100 per cent Renewable in only 20 Years

New Report: Scotland Could be 100 per cent Renewable in only 20 Years
WWF Scotland
14/07/2009
Region : All

New report shows a cleaner, greener energy future for Scotland is possible

A new report, published today (Tuesday 14 July) shows for the first time that a truly sustainable energy future is achievable for Scotland, meeting climate change, renewable energy and energy saving targets and creating new economic opportunities while protecting sensitive environments and maintaining security of supply.

The Power of Scotland Renewed report [1], based on research by independent energy analysts Garrad Hassan, and commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland, the World Development Movement, WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland, shows that there is enormous potential to increase generation of electricity from renewable sources during the next two decades, so much so that by 2030 renewable energy can meet between 60% and 143% of Scotland’s projected annual electricity demand.

Collective Intelligence Outsmarts Genius

Collective Intelligence Outsmarts Genius

``Most think that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and Wright Brothers created the airplane. But it took the collaboration of numerous people behind the scenes to come up with such great inventions,'' Hong said.

``Collective intelligence has always outsmarted the sophistication of a handful of geniuses. Corporations need to take advantage of this to make money,'' she said.

As examples of harnessing collective intelligence in business, Hong named open standard research projects such as Connect & Development of P&G and Ideastorm of Dell Computer as well as Haptic.

``Companies need to leverage opinions from outside resources from planning any goods or services to designing and marketing them,'' Hong said.

``Collective intelligence will provide a competitive edge to entities in comparison to those which restrict their approach to only in-house resources,'' she said.