Systems science has been instrumental in breaking new scientific ground in diverse fields such as meteorology, engineering and decision analysis. However, it is just beginning to impact public health. This seminar is designed to introduce students to basic tools of theory building and data analysis in systems science and to apply those tools to better understand the obesity epidemic in human populations. There will also be a lab in which students will use a simple demonstration model of food acquisition behavior using agent-based modeling on standard (free) software (netlogo). The central organizing idea of the course is to examine the obesity epidemic at a population level as an emergent properties of complex, nested systems, with attention to feedback processes, multilevel interactions, and the phenomenon of emergence. While the emphasis will be on obesity, the goal will be to explore ways in which the systems approach can be applied to other non-communicable diseases both nationally and internationally.
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There are 4 modules in this course
Obesity, the facts of the case, and human populations through a systems science lens.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
Complex systems, system dynamic models, and developing a stock and flow. This module includes a lab lesson.
What's included
6 videos1 reading2 assignments
Social networks and obesity, neighborhoods and noshing, and prices and poverty.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
Agent based modeling and conceptual motivation for agent based modeling. This module includes a lab lesson.
What's included
8 videos2 readings2 assignments
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Johns Hopkins University
University of Lausanne
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder
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