Team:ETH Zurich/human/essay/answer

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== Our reflections ==
== Our reflections ==
This essay is the third of four pillars towards an understanding of complexity. It brings elements from the survey, from interviews and from further reading together. Thinking on how our project and science, in general, relates to these topics.  
This essay is the third of four pillars towards an understanding of complexity. It brings elements from the survey, from interviews and from further reading together. Thinking on how our project and science, in general, relates to these topics.  
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Our human practice project was guided by the following question:
Our human practice project was guided by the following question:
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“Should scientists consider that subparts of a complex entity are mixed in a both ordered and unorganized way, accept uncertainty, and try to take it into account?  
“Should scientists consider that subparts of a complex entity are mixed in a both ordered and unorganized way, accept uncertainty, and try to take it into account?  
 +
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Or should they consider that parts are strictly ordered, and that complexity arises from simple parts by following rules?”
Or should they consider that parts are strictly ordered, and that complexity arises from simple parts by following rules?”
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This question splits up into two approaches. The first approach is needed to take into account uncertainty of intrinsic complexity of the parts we consider and of the environment. The second approach is necessary to understand the parts better in order to be able to predict results.
This question splits up into two approaches. The first approach is needed to take into account uncertainty of intrinsic complexity of the parts we consider and of the environment. The second approach is necessary to understand the parts better in order to be able to predict results.
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On our way of answering the questions coming along with complexity we focused on four different components: Listening, discussing, thinking and sharing.  
On our way of answering the questions coming along with complexity we focused on four different components: Listening, discussing, thinking and sharing.  
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The first component of listening was covered by a survey regarding complexity. We listened to the public and learned about the existing ideas of complexity and how people relate to it. Something that we have observed is a trend of increasing complexity when going from non-living objects to living beings.  
The first component of listening was covered by a survey regarding complexity. We listened to the public and learned about the existing ideas of complexity and how people relate to it. Something that we have observed is a trend of increasing complexity when going from non-living objects to living beings.  
 +
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70% of the participants of our survey have shown an interest to simplify and try to understand complexity instead of avoiding it. Another phenomenon observed was the deviation between languages. Depending on the language spoken, complexity was judged in a different way, which may indicate cultural variation.  
70% of the participants of our survey have shown an interest to simplify and try to understand complexity instead of avoiding it. Another phenomenon observed was the deviation between languages. Depending on the language spoken, complexity was judged in a different way, which may indicate cultural variation.  
 +
We are grateful for all the people that provided us comments in addition to the questions to answer. No matter whether these were suggestions for publications to read, complaints about the complexity of the survey or encouraging words.  
We are grateful for all the people that provided us comments in addition to the questions to answer. No matter whether these were suggestions for publications to read, complaints about the complexity of the survey or encouraging words.  
 +
This survey has taught us how complexity is perceived in the public. From our survey we experienced that in our sample population interest in complexity exists.  
This survey has taught us how complexity is perceived in the public. From our survey we experienced that in our sample population interest in complexity exists.  
 +
From our results we mainly got an indication of complexity in nature. A point to consider is that often people are not forced to deal with complexity directly. A cell, a dog and a computer exist as items in our daily lives but most of us do not think about their complexity in relation to other items on a daily basis. This means the topic is present but not easily formulated.  
From our results we mainly got an indication of complexity in nature. A point to consider is that often people are not forced to deal with complexity directly. A cell, a dog and a computer exist as items in our daily lives but most of us do not think about their complexity in relation to other items on a daily basis. This means the topic is present but not easily formulated.  
 +
Our second component involved interviews with experts from different backgrounds. The discussions with experts enabled us to broaden our horizons away from the complexity we are facing in our daily life to the complexity faced by people of other backgrounds. This exchange has enriched our project, as the professional fields of the interview partners were very diverse.  
Our second component involved interviews with experts from different backgrounds. The discussions with experts enabled us to broaden our horizons away from the complexity we are facing in our daily life to the complexity faced by people of other backgrounds. This exchange has enriched our project, as the professional fields of the interview partners were very diverse.  
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The knowledge gained from our survey, the interviews and the thoughts about the two previous ones in combination we wanted to share. Sharing as our fourth pillar was done in lectures at a high school where we aimed at explaining the fundamentals of synthetic biology and how it can be a way of approaching complexity. A science slam is defined as a scientific presentation competition where scientists present their topics in a predefined timeslot and in a funny, accessible way for the open public.  
The knowledge gained from our survey, the interviews and the thoughts about the two previous ones in combination we wanted to share. Sharing as our fourth pillar was done in lectures at a high school where we aimed at explaining the fundamentals of synthetic biology and how it can be a way of approaching complexity. A science slam is defined as a scientific presentation competition where scientists present their topics in a predefined timeslot and in a funny, accessible way for the open public.  
 +
Our human practice has shown us the diversity of approaches of addressing complexity in our daily lives, in our professional fields, in science and when encountering complex situations. The interviews have especially made this point clear e.g. from the talk with the priest we found out that in his opinion religion and believe help us to find a way away from complexity and towards God. Thus we can live a life in trust instead of confusion and desperate.  
Our human practice has shown us the diversity of approaches of addressing complexity in our daily lives, in our professional fields, in science and when encountering complex situations. The interviews have especially made this point clear e.g. from the talk with the priest we found out that in his opinion religion and believe help us to find a way away from complexity and towards God. Thus we can live a life in trust instead of confusion and desperate.  
From Dr. Chikkadi and also from Mr. Veress the philosophy teacher we learned that in their point of view complexity arises from simple phenomena.  
From Dr. Chikkadi and also from Mr. Veress the philosophy teacher we learned that in their point of view complexity arises from simple phenomena.  
 +
From Dr. Garcia we got the following input on the perception of complexity. „Complexity is a property of a system and it can be measured. It can be shown whether a system is complex or not: for a complex system, the sum of its elements is higher than each one of them independently in superposition.“
From Dr. Garcia we got the following input on the perception of complexity. „Complexity is a property of a system and it can be measured. It can be shown whether a system is complex or not: for a complex system, the sum of its elements is higher than each one of them independently in superposition.“
 +
We learned that it is often useful to simplify the complexity to obtain a more accessible approach. In the process of simplification we should not forget the relationship to reality.  
We learned that it is often useful to simplify the complexity to obtain a more accessible approach. In the process of simplification we should not forget the relationship to reality.  
 +
In our outreach part we experienced how important it is to break the complexity of the own down to make it accessible for a broader public. On our way of spreading the word of synthetic biology we had many enriching encounters. We met many different people and encountered the phenomenon already described in our survey. The people we met all showed interest in trying to simplify complex problems and a will to understand what seems complex in first place.  
In our outreach part we experienced how important it is to break the complexity of the own down to make it accessible for a broader public. On our way of spreading the word of synthetic biology we had many enriching encounters. We met many different people and encountered the phenomenon already described in our survey. The people we met all showed interest in trying to simplify complex problems and a will to understand what seems complex in first place.  

Revision as of 02:31, 18 October 2014

Our reflections

This essay is the third of four pillars towards an understanding of complexity. It brings elements from the survey, from interviews and from further reading together. Thinking on how our project and science, in general, relates to these topics.


Our human practice project was guided by the following question:


“Should scientists consider that subparts of a complex entity are mixed in a both ordered and unorganized way, accept uncertainty, and try to take it into account?


Or should they consider that parts are strictly ordered, and that complexity arises from simple parts by following rules?”


This question splits up into two approaches. The first approach is needed to take into account uncertainty of intrinsic complexity of the parts we consider and of the environment. The second approach is necessary to understand the parts better in order to be able to predict results.


On our way of answering the questions coming along with complexity we focused on four different components: Listening, discussing, thinking and sharing.


The first component of listening was covered by a survey regarding complexity. We listened to the public and learned about the existing ideas of complexity and how people relate to it. Something that we have observed is a trend of increasing complexity when going from non-living objects to living beings.


70% of the participants of our survey have shown an interest to simplify and try to understand complexity instead of avoiding it. Another phenomenon observed was the deviation between languages. Depending on the language spoken, complexity was judged in a different way, which may indicate cultural variation.

We are grateful for all the people that provided us comments in addition to the questions to answer. No matter whether these were suggestions for publications to read, complaints about the complexity of the survey or encouraging words.

This survey has taught us how complexity is perceived in the public. From our survey we experienced that in our sample population interest in complexity exists.

From our results we mainly got an indication of complexity in nature. A point to consider is that often people are not forced to deal with complexity directly. A cell, a dog and a computer exist as items in our daily lives but most of us do not think about their complexity in relation to other items on a daily basis. This means the topic is present but not easily formulated.


Our second component involved interviews with experts from different backgrounds. The discussions with experts enabled us to broaden our horizons away from the complexity we are facing in our daily life to the complexity faced by people of other backgrounds. This exchange has enriched our project, as the professional fields of the interview partners were very diverse.


The knowledge gained from our survey, the interviews and the thoughts about the two previous ones in combination we wanted to share. Sharing as our fourth pillar was done in lectures at a high school where we aimed at explaining the fundamentals of synthetic biology and how it can be a way of approaching complexity. A science slam is defined as a scientific presentation competition where scientists present their topics in a predefined timeslot and in a funny, accessible way for the open public.


Our human practice has shown us the diversity of approaches of addressing complexity in our daily lives, in our professional fields, in science and when encountering complex situations. The interviews have especially made this point clear e.g. from the talk with the priest we found out that in his opinion religion and believe help us to find a way away from complexity and towards God. Thus we can live a life in trust instead of confusion and desperate. From Dr. Chikkadi and also from Mr. Veress the philosophy teacher we learned that in their point of view complexity arises from simple phenomena.

From Dr. Garcia we got the following input on the perception of complexity. „Complexity is a property of a system and it can be measured. It can be shown whether a system is complex or not: for a complex system, the sum of its elements is higher than each one of them independently in superposition.“

We learned that it is often useful to simplify the complexity to obtain a more accessible approach. In the process of simplification we should not forget the relationship to reality.

In our outreach part we experienced how important it is to break the complexity of the own down to make it accessible for a broader public. On our way of spreading the word of synthetic biology we had many enriching encounters. We met many different people and encountered the phenomenon already described in our survey. The people we met all showed interest in trying to simplify complex problems and a will to understand what seems complex in first place.


We did not find a universal answer to the question guiding our human practice project. What we found are many different approaches to address complexity arising in many different fields. This project helped us to improve our understanding of complexity as a whole and how we could profit from this profound, interdisciplinary knowledge.


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