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
Overview
Section 1: Complex Adaptive Systems Overview
Lecture 1 Complexity Theory
Lecture 2 Complex Systems
Lecture 3 Complex Adaptive Systems
Section 2: Adaptive Systems
Lecture 4 Adaptive Systems
Lecture 5 Regulatory Systems
Lecture 6 Schemata
Section 3: Simple Rules
Lecture 7 Simple Rules - Complex Phenomena
Lecture 8 Feedback & Externalities
Lecture 9 Cellular Automaton
Lecture 10 Cooperation & Competition
Section 4: Self-Organization
Lecture 11 Self-organization
Lecture 12 Far-From-Equelibrium
Section 5: Evolution & Robustness
Lecture 13 Robustness & Resilience
Lecture 14 Evolution
Lecture 15 Fitness Landscapes
This course is intended for a broad group of people but will be particularly relevant for those with a background in math or science

Homepage
https://www.udemy.com/course/complex-adaptive-systems