1.1.1 Systems and Synergy

What do these, and the previous pictures, have in common?

They are all Systems

What is the meaning of the word system?

A system is something that: Is made up of individual component parts that work together to perform a particular function A bicycle is an example of a system

But if the parts of the bicycle are piled up in the middle of the room, they cease to work together and thus stop being a system

So a system could be...?

So a system could be...? A building a flower an atom a political party a car your body furniture an electric circuit

SYNERGY One of the most fascinating characteristics of any and all structures is the characteristic called SYNERGY

SYNERGY “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts” Synergy is: The only word in any language that describes the behaviour of systems in this way: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

Another way to say this is : Even if you know all the parts that make up a system you still cannot know or even predict how the whole system is going to behave or work. Can you give an example of this??

The Human Body If you take all the stuff that makes up a person, you would find that we are made up of: Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Water, Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Sulfur, Iron and many other elements.

You could never be able to explain YOUR behaviour or all the things that YOU do, or all the different aspects of you, if you looked at just the stuff that makes you up. Never in a million years. This is what we mean by SYNERGY.

Even if you looked at the next level up…the Cell Even if you knew what all the cells in your body do, you still could not describe YOU. Something very unique and new and unpredictable happens when the parts of a system work together.

Try this Puzzle. Using 6 sticks, all the same length, make 4 triangles, each with sides the length of the stick Hint #1: Think in a new way. Synergy has new and unique ways of changing things. Making them unexpected, unpredictable

Hint #2 Think in 3-D

Ready for the Answer? The Answer is….

The Tetrahedron

The Tetrahedron is the Simplest Structural System in the Universe The Tetrahedron- made of 6 sticks, 4 equilateral triangles, all 60 degrees, each vertex is part of 3 triangles the strongest structure for its volume and Surface area. Eg; diamonds

Synergy Even in the simple tetrahedron we have synergy. Because until the last stick or strut or member or piece or whatever you call it is added there is no structure at all. It would collapse. Try it!!! Imagine all the synergy going on in your body which is much more complex than a tetrahedron.

Another example of synergy Ordinary Table Salt (NaCl, Sodium Chloride) Synergy: The behaviour of whole systems that is unpredicted by knowing the behaviour of the individual parts taken separately Na (sodium) is a metal, highly reactive in water, explosive, burns with a yellow flame. Cl (chlorine) is a deadly greenish gas. Both of these elements when taken separately are poisonous and deadly BUT

SALT When combined, we witness synergy. Two deadly substances combine to produce something that we cannot live without. Something unique and new and unpredictable happens when two or more things come together and work together

Atoms combine together to form structural systems The behaviour of the table salt is totally unpredictable by simply knowing the behaviour of the individual parts. All nature, all systems, all structures display synergy. The Universe is the Synergy of Synergies.

Another interesting aspect of Synergy When we understand how the parts of a structure interact together to make something new and unique and unpredictable, we can also see that when we bring together ideas from different areas, such as math, art, music, science they will have a synergetic effect. That is, they provide the potential for great new discoveries.

Discovery One great truth about discovery is that, “One discovery often leads to further discoveries”

Bring different ideas Together One of the best places to find ideas for structural systems is in NATURE. Nature always uses the most economical, efficient and reliable structural systems

Ecosystems Ecological Systems Ecological Systems follow the laws of synergy as well. It is the interrelationships between the parts that produces the behaviour of the whole.

1.1.1-.3 Systems

Environmental Systems and Societies Interrelationships among climate, geology, soil, vegetation, and animals.

All the parts are linked together and affect each other. A System Is an organized collection of interdependent components that perform a function and which are connected through the transfer of energy and/or matter All the parts are linked together and affect each other.

Why use Systems Concept Why do we use Systems? Useful for understanding and explaining phenomena A holistic approach that can lead to a deeper understanding and possibly to further discoveries

Characteristics of Systems What are the characteristics? Component parts (reservoirs, storages, stocks, accumulations) Processes (flows, transformations, transfers, reactions, photosynthesis, respiration) Negative feedback mechanism for maintaining equilibrium Eg, circulatory system heart, veins, arteries, capillaries, blood cells, plasma etc pumping of the blood, blood pressure, nutrient exchange, vasodilation etc

Why Models Why models? The real thing is not available or it’s impractical Too rare, too complex, too big, too expensive

What is a Model? What is a model? A representation or a simulation, could be conceptual, physical, mathematical

How to evaluate a model? Does it explain past observations Does it agree with other models Does it predict accurately

Models “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” R Buckminster Fuller

The whole (system) is greater than the sum of the parts. A system has properties and functions NOT present in the individual components. The whole (system) is greater than the sum of the parts. Properties of the whole (system) CANNOT be predicted with the study of the parts on their own. This is called “Synergy”

Synergy and Systems Synergy is the only word in our language that means behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the separately observed behaviors of any of the system’s separate parts or any subassembly of the system’s parts. There is nothing in the chemistry of a toenail that predicts the existence of a human being.

Systems are defined by the source and ultimate destination of their matter and/or energy. 1. OPEN SYSTEM: a system in which both matter and energy are exchanged across boundaries of the system.

2. CLOSED SYSTEM: a system in which energy is exchanged across boundaries of the system, but matter is not.

Most natural living systems are OPEN systems. 3. ISOLATED SYSTEM: a system in which neither energy nor matter is exchanged across boundaries of the system. NO SUCH SYSTEM EXISTS!!! Most natural living systems are OPEN systems.

Two basic processes must occur in an ecosystem: A cycling of chemical elements. Flow of energy. TRANSFERS: normally flow through a system and involve a change in location. TRANSFORMATIONS: lead to an interaction within a system in the formation of a new end product, or involve a change of state.

Components of a system: Inputs such as energy or matter. Human Body Calories Protein

2. Flows of matter or energy within the systems at certain rates. Human Metabolism Calories Protein

3.Outputs of certain forms of matter or energy that flow out of the system into sinks in the environment. Human Metabolism Calories Protein WasteHeat WasteMatter

4. Storage areas in which energy or matter can accumulate for various lengths of time before being released. Human Metabolism Calories Protein fat insulation muscle fiber hair, nails enzymes

Inputs and Outputs

PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESPIRATION energy input from sun PHOTOSYNTHESIS (plants, other producers) nutrient cycling RESPIRATION (hetero & autos, decomposers) energy output (mainly heat)

SUSTAINABILITY is the extent to which a given interaction with the environment exploits and utilizes the natural income without causing long-term deterioration to the natural capital.