Embracing complexity in science and society - a taught course for built environment researchers

建筑物生命周期的所有阶段都具有复杂性，从开始到设计、建造和使用寿命，再到处置或回收。建筑环境中复杂系统的例子是多方面的，包括：在建筑环境服务的设计和运行中，多个服务系统和组件之间的相互作用、建筑结构、外部环境和建筑用户；强烈影响设计和生产过程管理的社会和文化相互作用，例如在所有采购和招标过程中不同措施中出现的合作、竞争和冲突的条件，以及对建筑资产可持续性的评估，这需要适当考虑到社会、经济和环境问题。上述建筑环境中所面临的一系列技术、组织和文化问题，由于其固有的复杂性，无法用传统方法解决。据设想，采用复杂性科学发展的研究方法在解决这些问题方面将比传统方法成功得多。然而，复杂性科学在建筑环境中的应用非常有限。因此，我们建议建筑环境学科的研究界将从提供专门为促进和促进复杂性科学在该领域的应用而设计的教学课程和其他资源中受益匪浅。本课程的主要目标是使BE研究界接触到复杂性科学，确定BE的潜在应用领域，并为追求这些应用提供工具和技术。我们还认为，至关重要的是，发展不能以单一课程结束，而是要有未来发展和提供材料以及产生多学科合作和协同作用的机制。此外，我们注意到，潜在与会者的经验和知识差异很大，正如上文所述，应用领域的潜在范围也是如此。因此，我们力求提供既广泛又适应性强的课程结构、内容和授课方式。在这些目标和约束的驱动下，我们提出以下具体特征：开发课程内容，从复杂性的一般原则，通过其他学科和方法/工具的应用，到特定的建筑环境应用，并相应地借鉴广泛的多学科专业知识。课程结构应该包括足够的时间让听众和演讲者之间以及听众内部进行辩论和互动。这门课应该设计成在若干场合授课。利用核心和选项方法开发课程内容/结构，允许对交付的个别实例进行定制，以适应受众。这门课程应该开启建筑环境研究界内外的互动和合作过程，并成为建立一个长期支持这一进程的论坛的催化剂。提供一套电子及/或网络资源，作为传统课程的辅助内容，并提供超出课程计划预期寿命的未来复杂培训

All phases in the life cycle of buildings are characterised by complexity, from their inception, through design, construction and operational life, to their disposal or recycling. Examples of complex systems in the Built Environment are manifold, including: the interaction between multiple services systems and components, the building fabric, the external environment and the building users in the design and operation of environmental services in buildings; the social and cultural interactions that strongly influence the management of the design and production processes e.g. the conditions of cooperation, competition and conflict that occur in different measures in all procurement and tendering processes, and the assessment of the sustainability of built assets, which requires that due account be taken of social, economic and environmental issues.A host of technical, organisational and cultural problems faced in the built environment, of the kind outlined above, have resisted orderly solutions when tackled by conventional methods, largely because of their inherent complexity. It is envisaged that research methods employing developments in complexity science will be much more successful than conventional methods in tackling these problems. However, the application of complexity science in the built environment has been very limited. Therefore, we propose that the research community in the built environment disciplines will benefit greatly from the provision of taught courses, and other resources, designed specifically to advance and foster the use of complexity science in the sector.The broad aims of the proposed course are to expose the BE research community to complexity science, identify potential areas of application in BE and provide tools and techniques for the pursuit of these applications. We also believe that it is critically important that the development does not end with a single course, but that there are mechanisms for future development and delivery of the material and for the generation of multi-disciplinary collaboration and synergy. Furthermore, we note that the variation in experience and knowledge of potential attendees is large, as is the potential range of areas of application, as identified above. We therefore seek to provide course structures, content and delivery that will be both broad-ranging and adaptable. Driven by these aims and constraints, we propose the following specific features:To develop a course content that moves from generic principles of complexity, through applications in other disciplines and methodologies/tools, to specific Built Environment applications and which accordingly draws upon a wide range of multidisciplinary expertise.That the course structure should include sufficient time for debate and interaction both between the audience and deliverers and within the audience.That the course should be designed to be delivered on a number of occasions. To develop course content/structures utilising a core and options approach, allowing individual instances of the delivery to be tailored to suit the audience.That the course should commence the process of interaction and collaboration within and outside the Built Environment research community and be a catalyst for the establishment of a forum to support this in the long term.To provide a set of electronic and/or web-based resources to be used as an adjunct to the conventional delivery of the course and to provide for future training in complexity beyond the life envisaged for the programme of courses