Center for the Study of Complex Systems
Seminar Series
Monday, February 3, 2014
Note: No Seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 4
Room 4448 East Hall*
12:00 - 1:00 pm
SPEAKER:
Jan Wouter Vasbinder,
Director of the Complexity Institute at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore
Title:
Singapore and Complexity
Abstract: For the first 40 years of its existence as an independent country Singapore seemed like simplicity itself. Why then should Singapore embrace complexity? And what does it mean to Singapore? I will discuss some underlying reasons why Singapore and complexity found each other, what complexity means for Singapore, and what Singapore means for complexity science at the Nanyang Technological University.
Most reasons why Singapore is “on to complexity” may be understandable to a mind that was formed and educated in the west. But one reason is much harder to grip for that western mind: the Chinese way of bringing about effects. I will shortly touch on what I think is an enormous potential for Singapore to develop a unique position in the world: to use complexity as a means to find the source of eastern creativity.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT 4448 EAST HALL WILL BE THE LOCATION OF THE REMAINDER OF THE COMPLEX SYSTEMS SEMINARSERIES FOR 2013/14.(to find this room, go to the East Hall Annex off Church Street - north entrance doors (Psychology) and take stairs to fourth floor, or take elevator located just inside first set of doors at Church St. entrance - to 4th floor)
