There are a number of ways to learn about systems, but you're usually stuck with observation and modeling when it comes to complex systems. Every now and again systems you're interested in get a large wack. Fires in California are an example of localized system perturbations. Reactions may or may not be what you had expected, but you can learn if you observe carefully.
COVID-19 has given a lot of systems that involve humans a major wack. There has been a major drop in transportation and the power production curves have shifted. Online education with a large variety of techniques will result in some failures and perhaps some successes. How effective are different appraoches and in what context? How effective is telemedicine? What happens when you delay elective surgery? What is the outcome of delaying treatment for a variety of conditions? What approaches work for dealing with pandemics? What forms of government are effective for restoring economies? How much socialization do children and adults require?
We live in a suburban area, but normally crepuscular animals are wandering around in daylight. Which ones and why? The sound levels in the woods are very different. I'll be recording and labeling sound ambient sound levels and seeing how they change as this goes on and as we come out of it. Many animal populations have been hurt by human activity. Will some make a comeback and how quickly will they fade as we go back to business as usual.
It's easy to make long lists. If you're so inclined there are any number of activities where amateur observation can be effective. Carefully recorded observations will be important even if you don't know what to do with them now. Bird watching and amateur astronomy could be a model - amateur observations have turned out to be very important over time.
Some of these activities could be great for curious kids and others may give business and life changing insights to adults. And it's a lot more fun than sitting back and watching tv.
Comments