complexity
What is scale?
I argue that scale is not something that you “do” but something that has a functional value and I will suggest that scales are defined by self-organisation principles.
complexity
The role of innovation and the loss of scale in sustainability policy
I argue that innovation is a means through which science travels in policy and at the same time it is a means through which a very specific understanding of science is enacted
complexity
Ethics of algorithms and the posthuman
In the last seminars I attended, I heard more and more talks about the ethics of algorithms. At Jerome Ravetz’s 90th birthday celebration, Urmie Ray made the case for introducing ethics in the curriculum of mathematicians – a field traditionally alien to humanistic concerns such as ethics. Ray used the Read more…
complexity
Numbers as the interface between science and policy: what is at stake?
Before I get to the subject matter, a little bit about my background. Since my PhD, I have been studying the use of quantitative evidence in the context of complexity, uncertainty and pluralism. My work has been greatly influenced by Post Normal Science, by the fossil joke and the realisation Read more…
complexity
The Tao and governance
In this post, I look at Eastern philosophy for inspiration on ways to think about complexity and governance. This post is inspired by conversations with Roger Strand, Mario Giampietro, Silvio Funtowicz and Martin O’Connor. A starting point often used to talk about complexity is to acknowledge that any representation of Read more…
complexity
What does complexity theory have to offer to the study of the science-policy interface? (4)
Blog post IV of IV: Complexity as the need to mobilise differet types of knowledge
complexity
What does complexity theory have to offer to the study of the science-policy interface? (3)
Blog post III of IV: Complexity as means to invoke humility and reflexivity in science advice to policy
complexity
What does complexity theory have to offer to the study of the science-policy interface? (2)
Blog post II of IV: Complexity as a means to explain, name and label the policy process
complexity
What does complexity theory have to offer to the study of the science-policy interface? (1)
Blog post I of IV: Complexity as a critical response to reductionism and the linear model
complexity
Towards governance in complexity
How to provide good science advice to policymakers, under conditions of scientific complexity and uncertainty?
There are three points that I would like to make. (more…)