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What doesn't kill you makes you more resilient
Topic: Resilience
by Kevin, 2019 Cohort
Resilience is the ability of the system in question to handle external disturbances whilst maintaining its functionality. Trying to understand a system’s resilience in relation to complex problems is as the name suggests complex as one must actively isolate the system’s relationship with each external disturbance. However the first step is to understand the system’s resilience level and quantify it in a recognisable form. The challenge then becomes in building this resilience so that the disturbance no longer has the ability to transform the system in a new state.
Representation of Resilience#
The best visualisation of resilience is by employing a ball and cup model. A ball when pushed around the cup may fluctuate but will eventually return back to the stable point being the middle of the cup. However, when tipped over the critical threshold point being the edge of the cup it will no longer have the capacity to return to its original state of being but will exist in a different state with a new stable point. Therefore for those that are confronted with complex problems, especially in a failing ecological system, the key is building this curve so that the system can never reach its critical threshold
How can we build a resilient example?#
The human body is seen as an extremely resilient system that over a millennia has evolved to combat a variety of diseases. With the advent of technological and medical innovation the human body has been able to expand its durability to disturbances whilst maintaining functionality. Take for example, vaccinations and its relationship to deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio. These diseases are seen as the disturbances that have the ability to transport the human body into its new system being death. However, by introducing our bodies to these destabilising disturbances in small amounts, there is an increase in our bodies ability to withstand these diseases without being shifted into a new state. Therefore resilience can be built by destabilising the system, but not to the extent of crossing the threshold.
Example of a non-resilient system#
The Great Barrier Reef aptly demonstrates when a complex system’s resilience and functionality is overrun by the external disturbances. Whilst the reef is somewhat resilient to temperature change and can still function with some levels of bleaching, any consecutive years of temperature change will push it into a new state. The added human impact has further increased the occurrence of this disturbance through man made climate change. In order to solve this complex problem we must first determine where the Great Barrier can no longer maintain normal function against such disturbances. Utilising this ball-cup model becomes an important visualisation and can be used as a tool in conceptualising such a complex problem. From here do we either align our actions in a sustainable manner to the reef’s existing resilience? Our like our bodies, do we build the reef’s resilience through the introduction of destabilising disturbances in small amounts?
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Disclaimer#
This content has been contributed by a student as part of a learning activity.
If there are inaccuracies, or opportunities for significant improvement on this topic, feedback is welcome on how to improve the resource.
You can improve articles on this topic as a student in "Unravelling Complexity", or by including the amendments in an email to: Chris.Browne@anu.edu.au
Resilience is the ability of the system in question to handle external disturbances whilst maintaining its functionality. Trying to understand a system’s resilience in relation to complex problems is as the name suggests complex as one must actively isolate the system’s relationship with each external disturbance. However the first step is to understand the system’s resilience level and quantify it in a recognisable form. The challenge then becomes in building this resilience so that the disturbance no longer has the ability to transform the system in a new state.
Representation of Resilience#
The best visualisation of resilience is by employing a ball and cup model. A ball when pushed around the cup may fluctuate but will eventually return back to the stable point being the middle of the cup. However, when tipped over the critical threshold point being the edge of the cup it will no longer have the capacity to return to its original state of being but will exist in a different state with a new stable point. Therefore for those that are confronted with complex problems, especially in a failing ecological system, the key is building this curve so that the system can never reach its critical threshold
How can we build a resilient example?#
The human body is seen as an extremely resilient system that over a millennia has evolved to combat a variety of diseases. With the advent of technological and medical innovation the human body has been able to expand its durability to disturbances whilst maintaining functionality. Take for example, vaccinations and its relationship to deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio. These diseases are seen as the disturbances that have the ability to transport the human body into its new system being death. However, by introducing our bodies to these destabilising disturbances in small amounts, there is an increase in our bodies ability to withstand these diseases without being shifted into a new state. Therefore resilience can be built by destabilising the system, but not to the extent of crossing the threshold.
Example of a non-resilient system#
The Great Barrier Reef aptly demonstrates when a complex system’s resilience and functionality is overrun by the external disturbances. Whilst the reef is somewhat resilient to temperature change and can still function with some levels of bleaching, any consecutive years of temperature change will push it into a new state. The added human impact has further increased the occurrence of this disturbance through man made climate change. In order to solve this complex problem we must first determine where the Great Barrier can no longer maintain normal function against such disturbances. Utilising this ball-cup model becomes an important visualisation and can be used as a tool in conceptualising such a complex problem. From here do we either align our actions in a sustainable manner to the reef’s existing resilience? Our like our bodies, do we build the reef’s resilience through the introduction of destabilising disturbances in small amounts?