Virtual course on complexity
From COSNet
17 July 2007
Dear Prof Dewar,
I am working as the Head of the Statistics Department at Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan. Eversince 1985, I have been active in the area of statistical education,have launched a number of innovative projects and programs for the enhancement of the teaching / learning process in the subject of Statistics, have presented papers in a large number of national and international conferences, and am the recepient of two national and two international awards.
Whereas in general there does not exist any awareness about complex systems science in Pakistan, I have very recently had the great opportunity of attending the Complex Systems Summer School ( CSSS ) in Santa Fe, New Mexico ( USA ) which has been a very enriching and horizon - widening experience !
Having had such a GREAT experience --- I wish to do something to introduce the concept of Complex Systems Science in Pakistan. I feel that one of the most effective ways of doing so is to develop a course on Complex Systems Science for the Virtual University of Pakistan --- a fairly new university established by the Government of Pakistan that runs all its courses and programs through the television and the internet. I have already developed a course entitled 'Statistics and Probability' for them ( consisting of 45 lectures that were video -recorded in 2003).
A few days ago, I wrote to Rector of the Virtual University of Pakistan regarding my experience at CSSS, and my desire to do a course entitled 'Introduction to Complex Systems Science' for the University's BS students. He has written ( rightly so ) that it is not possible to make a commitment without having enough information to be able to assess the feasibility and usefulness of the course vis a vis the development costs. As such, I feel that the first step is that I attempt to (1) develop a Course Outline, and (2) accumulate course material ---- for which ----- I would like to request your assistance.
I will be extremely grateful for any and EVERY piece of guidance and advice that you could render in order for me to be able to acciomplish this goal.
With Best Regards, Saleha
Miss Saleha Naghmi Habibullah Head of the Statistics Department Kinnaird College For Women 93 Jail Road, Lahore Pakistan
17 July 2007
Dear Saleha
I have never taught a course on complex systems, but there are probably people in COSNet who have. So what I'll do is ask Daniel Chan, the Manager of our network, to forward your request to our member list, with a request that they respond directly to you with a cc to him and me.
Best wishes for your project ... Bob Dewar
PS there are some Australian virtual resources on our web page http://www.complexsystems.net.au/content/links . Specifically, http://vlab.infotech.monash.edu.au/ and http://www.science.org.au/nova/094/094key.htm . PPS We have also used the open-source Access Grid video-conferencing technology for COSNet administrative meetings ... this has obvious potential for running a nation-wide course, but we have not attempted to do that yet.
Prof Robert L. Dewar Head, Department of Theoretical Physics Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 AUSTRALIA
18 July 2007
Dear COSNet Participants,
Attached please find correspondence between Miss Saleha Naghmi Habibullah and Prof Bob Dewar, COSNet Convenor, on the subject of developing a course entitled "Introduction to Complex Systems Science" for the Virtual University of Pakistan.
COSNet encourages and welcomes any suggestions or offers of assistance from members in this worthy exercise. Please send me your response or respond directly to Miss Habibullah, with a cc to Bob and me.
Thank you.
With kind regards, Daniel
Daniel Chan Network Manager COSNet - ARC Complex Open Systems Research Network Department of Theoretical Physics Research School of Physical Sciences and Engineering Building 59 ANU COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Canberra ACT 0200 Ph: +61 61259992 Mob: 0411 508 118 Fax: +61 2 6125 4676 Email: cosnet@anu.edu.au http://www.complexsystems.net.au <http://www.complexsystems.net.au/>
18 July 2007
Hi Saleha,
It occurred to me that Monash University's VLAB:
<http://vlab.infotech.monash.edu.au/>
would be a good resource for a course on Complexity.
Please note that I am not involved in the VLAB project. You could try contacting David Green <david.green@infotech.monash.edu.au>
Hope this helps.
Andrew Smith.
18 July 2007
At Warwick we are currently developing a 1 year graduate course on complexity. Details can be found on:
http://go.warwick.ac.uk/complexitydtc
Prof Sandra C. Chapman Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics University of Warwick, UK www.warwick.ac.uk/go/cfsa/ S.C.Chapman@warwick.ac.uk
18 July 2007
Dear Saleha,
In response to your request via Bob Dewar for suggestions for a course on Complex Systems Science for the Virtual University of Pakistan, at Warwick we are about to begin putting on a training course at master's level in Complexity Science, as the initial 6 months of a PhD programme. Information is available via http://go.warwick.ac.uk/complexitydtc The first time it will run will be Oct 07 - Mar 08. If it gives you useful ideas we'll be happy. Conversely, if you have suggestions for improvements, we'd be glad to hear them.
Best wishes, Robert
Prof R.S.MacKay FRS, Director of Mathematical Interdisciplinary Research, B2.05 Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K. phone +44: 24 765 22218, FAX 24182, secretary: 23870 R.S.MacKay@warwick.ac.uk http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/~mackay
19 July 2007
Dear Saleha,
I am a memebr of COSNet, and I teach an introductory course on complexity, for students without strong mathematical background (architects, biologists, ...). I am quite busy in this period, so I can't do much to help you, except for sending you a book proposal, in english, on which my course is based. I already have a sort of lecture notes (not really a book) in italian.
You may use this table of content as a starting point to think about possible subjects to treat. We mention also a book in english which is highly recommended, for students with a stronger mathematical background.
Note also that my institution has recently signed important agreements with various Pakistani institutions. At the moment I can't check the details, but I know that a number of students from Pakistan have been enrolled in our course for next academic year. Perhaps, you may check and find out about possible exchanges. If you can but are interested, let me know, and I will ask our office for international affairs to get in touch with you.
I hope this helps.
Best regards
Lamberto
Lamberto Rondoni, Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Torino Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino - Italy +39 + 011 + 5647533 (office), +39 + 011 + 5647599 (fax) http://calvino.polito.it/~rondoni
27 July 2007
Hello Saleha
It is with interest that I read your request because I was thinking about developing such a course for Australia. There is an obvious gap within the universities degree structures for such a course. Additionally, I am interested in attending the Santa Fe workshop also. Currently, I am completing a PhD in evolutionary economic. > The software package NetLogo models emergence. It is free, easy to learn, graphical and has a community of programmers supplying examples.
home page - http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/
download - http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/download.shtml The download comes with a large number of functioning examples under "File / Model Libraries"
tutorials - http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/docs/ - on the left hand side The package provides somas tutorials that may help in devolving a course in complex systems.
community models - http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/models/community/
Regards
Paul Bell
27 July 2007
Dear Paul,
Thank you So Much for your advice ! I appreciate it very much indeed.
Santa Fe has been a GREAT experience ! You should try to attend it.
With best regards,
Saleha
