About this course: 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. Topics will include: a) the epidemiology of obesity across time and place, b) theories to explain population obesity, c) the role of environments and economic resources in obesity c) basic concepts and tools of systems science, d) modeling energy-balance related behaviors in context, e) agent-based models, systems dynamic models, and social network models
Taught by: Jessica Jones-Smith, Assistant Professor
Human Nutrition
Taught by: Rahmatollah Beheshti, Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Civil Engineering
Taught by: Daniel Taber, Assistant Professor
School of Public Health (UT Health)
Taught by: Kayla de la Haye, Assistant Professor of Preventative Medicine
Keck School of Medicine (USC)
Taught by: Thomas Glass, Professor
Epidemiology
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 2-3 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
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very good
FUN AND INTERESTING COURSE. THANKS.
Inspirational, novel, one of its kind. Am glad to be part of the course
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AA
I thought this was interesting and informative. I'm neither a programmer nor a scientist so I had my doubts about how much I would get out of it, but I think it was at a good level for a beginner. Obesity seemed like a great topic to introduce systems science ideas and vice versa. I never felt too confused.