Systems Aikido - A Novel Approach to Managing Natural Systems

The potential of new technologies which emulate or exploit the unique properties of living systems is widely lauded. Such technologies however, create new engineering challenges which must be addressed before they can become broadly utilised (see for example, Braha et al. (2006); Bedau et al. (2010); Penn (2008)). Additionally, many pressing challenges for society today are inherently concerned with gaining a better ability to understand and manage interacting living or life-like systems upon which we rely. Well-documented examples include climate change, agricultural sustainability, city dynamics, demographic change and chronic infections. Problems in all these areas demand a better ability to manage complex biological systems than is currently available.