Geoffrey West on Scaling, Open-Ended Growth, and Accelerating Crisis/Innovation Cycles

Explore the complex dynamics of urban growth and its global implications in this thought-provoking 58-minute talk by Geoffrey West, Distinguished Shannan Professor and former President of the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into the scaling laws that govern city evolution, examining how urban centers amplify both human creativity and societal challenges. Analyze the accelerating cycle of crisis and innovation driving our global economy and ecosystems to the brink. Question whether open-ended growth and technological advances can truly save us from potential collapse, or if we're trapped in an unsustainable cycle. Gain insights into the physics of cities, the concept of social reactors, and the delicate balance between progress and sustainability. Reflect on our ability to understand and manage limited resources in the face of unchecked growth. This talk, part of the COMPLEXITY podcast series, offers a deep examination of current complex crises and their potential solutions through the lens of complex systems science.