Critical Transitions in Nature and Society
Critical Transitions in Nature and Society

Author: Marten Scheffer

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2020-11-10

Total Pages: 398

ISBN-13: 1400833272

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How do we explain the remarkably abrupt changes that sometimes occur in nature and society--and can we predict why and when they happen? This book offers a comprehensive introduction to critical transitions in complex systems--the radical changes that happen at tipping points when thresholds are passed. Marten Scheffer accessibly describes the dynamical systems theory behind critical transitions, covering catastrophe theory, bifurcations, chaos, and more. He gives examples of critical transitions in lakes, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, climate, evolution, and human societies. And he demonstrates how to deal with these transitions, offering practical guidance on how to predict tipping points, how to prevent "bad" transitions, and how to promote critical transitions that work for us and not against us. Scheffer shows the time is ripe for understanding and managing critical transitions in the vast and complex systems in which we live. This book can also serve as a textbook and includes a detailed appendix with equations. Provides an accessible introduction to dynamical systems theory Covers critical transitions in lakes, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, the climate, evolution, and human societies Explains how to predict tipping points Offers strategies for preventing "bad" transitions and triggering "good" ones Features an appendix with equations

Critical Transitions
Critical Transitions

Author: Chris M. Anson

Publisher: CSU Open Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781607326472

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In Critical Transitions: Writing and the Question of Transfer, Chris Anson and Jessie Moore offer an important new collection about prior learning and transfer theories that asks what writing knowledge should transfer, how we might recognize that transfer, and what the significance is--from a global perspective--of understanding knowledge transformation related to writing. The contributors examine strategies for supporting writers' transfer at key critical transitions, including transitions from high-school to college, from first-year writing to writing in the major and in the disciplines, between self-sponsored and academic writing, and between languages. The collection concludes with an epilogue offering next steps in studying and designing for writing transfer. Contributors Linda Adler-Kassner, Chris M. Anson, Stuart Blythe, Scott Chien-Hsiung Chiu, Irene Clark, Nicolette Mercer Clement, Stacey M. Cozart, Gita DasBender, Christiane Donahue, Dana Lynn Driscoll, Dana R. Ferris, Gwen Gorzelsky, Regina A. McManigell Grijalva, Carol Hayes, Hogan Hayes, Tine Wirenfeldt Jensen, Ed Jones, Ketevan Kupatadze, Jessie L. Moore, Joe Paszek, Donna Qualley, Liane Robertson, Paula Rosinski, Kara Taczak, Elizabeth Wardle, Carl Whithaus, Gitte Wichmann-Hansen, Kathleen Blake Yancey

Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty
Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-06-18

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 030915586X

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Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty presents new and surprising findings about career differences between female and male full-time, tenure-track, and tenured faculty in science, engineering, and mathematics at the nation's top research universities. Much of this congressionally mandated book is based on two unique surveys of faculty and departments at major U.S. research universities in six fields: biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, and physics. A departmental survey collected information on departmental policies, recent tenure and promotion cases, and recent hires in almost 500 departments. A faculty survey gathered information from a stratified, random sample of about 1,800 faculty on demographic characteristics, employment experiences, the allocation of institutional resources such as laboratory space, professional activities, and scholarly productivity. This book paints a timely picture of the status of female faculty at top universities, clarifies whether male and female faculty have similar opportunities to advance and succeed in academia, challenges some commonly held views, and poses several questions still in need of answers. This book will be of special interest to university administrators and faculty, graduate students, policy makers, professional and academic societies, federal funding agencies, and others concerned with the vitality of the U.S. research base and economy.

Falling Through the Cracks: Critical Transitions in the Latina/o Educational Pipeline
Falling Through the Cracks: Critical Transitions in the Latina/o Educational Pipeline

Author: Lindsay Perez Huber

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2010-03

Total Pages: 14

ISBN-13: 1437920314

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Within educational research, the pipeline metaphor is often used to describe how students move through the primary, secondary, and postsecondary levels of educ. The pipeline for Latina/o students, however, does now allow this group of students to flow smoothly through the various levels of educ. and yield a fairly proportionate number of high school and postsecondary grad. For ex., out of every 100 Latina elementary students in the U.S., 54 will graduate from high school; from these, 11 will graduate from college, 4 will graduate from grad. or professional school, and less than 1 will receive a doctorate. This report discusses this problem as well as areas of concern that must be addressed if current educ. outcomes for Latina/o students are to improve. Illus.

Introduction to Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena
Introduction to Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena

Author: Harry Eugene Stanley

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 1971

Total Pages: 346

ISBN-13:

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First published in 1971, this highly popular text is devoted to the interdisciplinary area of critical phenomena, with an emphasis on liquid-gas and ferromagnetic transitions. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and solid state physics, as well as researchers in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and materials science, will welcome this paperback edition of Stanley's acclaimed text.

Elements of Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena
Elements of Phase Transitions and Critical Phenomena

Author: Hidetoshi Nishimori

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 0199577226

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As an introductory account of the theory of phase transitions and critical phenomena, this book reflects lectures given by the authors to graduate students at their departments and is thus classroom-tested to help beginners enter the field. Most parts are written as self-contained units and every new concept or calculation is explained in detail without assuming prior knowledge of the subject. The book significantly enhances and revises a Japanese version which is a bestseller in the Japanese market and is considered a standard textbook in the field. It contains new pedagogical presentations of field theory methods, including a chapter on conformal field theory, and various modern developments hard to find in a single textbook on phase transitions. Exercises are presented as the topics develop, with solutions found at the end of the book, making the text useful for self-teaching, as well as for classroom learning.

The Material Basis of Energy Transitions
The Material Basis of Energy Transitions

Author: Alena Bleicher

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2020-08-05

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 0128235543

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The Material Basis of Energy Transitions explores the intersection between critical raw material provision and the energy system. Chapters draw on examples and case studies involving energy technologies (e.g., electric power, transport) and raw material provision (e.g., mining, recycling), and consider these in their regional and global contexts. The book critically discusses issues such as the notion of criticality in the context of a circular economy, approaches for estimating the need for raw materials, certification schemes for raw materials, the role of consumers, and the impact of renewable energy development on resource conflicts. Each chapter deals with a specific issue that characterizes the interdependency between critical raw materials and renewable energies by examining case studies from a particular conceptual perspective. The book is a resource for students and researchers from the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, as well as interdisciplinary scholars interested in the field of renewable energies, the circular economy, recycling, transport, and mining. The book is also of interest to policymakers in the fields of renewable energy, recycling, and mining, professionals from the energy and resource industries, as well as energy experts and consultants looking for an interdisciplinary assessment of critical materials. Provides a comprehensive overview of key issues related to the nexus between renewable energy and critical raw materials Explores interdisciplinary perspectives from the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences Discusses critical strategies to address the nexus from a practitioner's perspective

Phase Transitions
Phase Transitions

Author: Ricard V. Solé

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2011-08-14

Total Pages: 238

ISBN-13: 0691150753

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Phase transitions--changes between different states of organization in a complex system--have long helped to explain physics concepts, such as why water freezes into a solid or boils to become a gas. How might phase transitions shed light on important problems in biological and ecological complex systems? Exploring the origins and implications of sudden changes in nature and society, Phase Transitions examines different dynamical behaviors in a broad range of complex systems. Using a compelling set of examples, from gene networks and ant colonies to human language and the degradation of diverse ecosystems, the book illustrates the power of simple models to reveal how phase transitions occur. Introductory chapters provide the critical concepts and the simplest mathematical techniques required to study phase transitions. In a series of example-driven chapters, Ricard Solé shows how such concepts and techniques can be applied to the analysis and prediction of complex system behavior, including the origins of life, viral replication, epidemics, language evolution, and the emergence and breakdown of societies. Written at an undergraduate mathematical level, this book provides the essential theoretical tools and foundations required to develop basic models to explain collective phase transitions for a wide variety of ecosystems.

All Change!
All Change!

Author: Rhiannon Packer

Publisher: Critical Publishing

Published: 2021-01-15

Total Pages: 199

ISBN-13: 1913063593

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Examines transitions within education – between year groups, key stages and schools – and how they can be managed and supported for the maximum benefit of the pupil. There is recognition that educational experiences can have a profound impact on both employability and future well-being. Beneath the political rhetoric is the need for a deepened understanding of how to develop lifelong learners, who can react positively to change and who can think critically, reflectively and independently. Supporting and managing transitions within the educational system lies at the heart of this and is therefore vitally important for all pupils. Drawing upon theory, the book provides examples of practical strategies supported by real life case studies from both working practitioners and key stakeholders including pupils and parents. These raise awareness of both challenges and good practice, while also providing key opportunities for different sectors to learn from one another.