Name: Simplifying complexity
Uploaded: 2010-11-12T15:09:00Z
Duration: 3 min 25 s
Description: Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. Illustrating the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, he distills an overwhelming infographic on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan to a few elementary points.

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Effects of nonnative fish and habitat characteristics on lentic herpetofauna in Yosemite National Park, USA

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Scaling up keystone effects from simple to complex ecological networks

When I say here, “This is what I can decipher from this diagram in 24 seconds ...” I didn’t really mean this entire exercise took me only 24 seconds! I was super nervous about going over time in my three-minute slot; the countdown clock was staring at me in the face and put those words in my mouth!

Ecologist Eric Berlow doesn't feel overwhelmed when faced with complex systems. He knows that more information can lead to a better, simpler solution. Illustrating the tips and tricks for breaking down big issues, he distills an overwhelming infographic on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan to a few elementary points.

Simplifying complexity

Complex problems can often seem intimidating, but looking at the big picture can reveal simple solutions. A food web from California’s Alpine Lakes dramatically changed when invasive fish were introduced, yet those changes became predictable when viewed holistically. Visual tools and broader perspectives help untangle complicated networks, whether in nature or in geopolitics. Stepping back to see all the connections can uncover the crucial details that truly matter.