User:Apleising

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I just finished my first year of an interdisciplinary PhD program in environment and resources at Stanford University. Specifically, I study energy systems. I have a background in chemistry and policy. I am primarily interested in complexity theory out of fun and fascination, but it is also relevant to my research. I am interested in distributed energy systems and the complexity issues that may arise as these systems become more distributed. I am particulary curious as to whether there exist positive feedback loops of influence within distributed energy systems that may be leveraged in order to manage consumption.

FIVE QUESTIONS

1. What topics do you have some expertise in and would you be willing to help others learn them?

--I am more than willing to help others in any way, but I dont think I have much expertise to contribute, unfortunately; of course, I study energy systems and can speak a little on the topic of distributed energy systems in contrast to the traditional centralized energy system. I think I will be the student much more than the teacher.

2. What do you want to learn at the CSSS?

--I would like to learn how to translate concepts of complexity theory into applications that can be modeled, observed, and analyzed. I think a lot of what I know of complexity theory is conceptual and nebulous; I would like to cut through this and gain a better understanding. Practically speaking, I would like to learn whether complexity theory is sufficiently relevant to energy systems to warrrant a dissertation.

3. Do you have any projects or research interests that would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach?

--I am enrolled in an interdisciplinary doctoral program, in which I am looking at energy consumption and engineered systems.

4. Do you have any ideas for what sort of project you would like to do this summer?

--On one hand I am interested in working on a project on electricity or energy with regards to distributed generation, which is what I study in school, but I am also interested in working on a project outside this area and more for fun, such as modeling the behavior of a futbol team in which the players play in a zone as opposed to a man-to-man defense.