Uncertainty - A key to better understanding of systems

This presentation highlights the role of uncertainty in facilitating progress in systems modelling and simulation. Far from being an admission of failure, uncertainty based reasoning helps to reduce the complexity of systems and to increase the credibility of their models. While considering the various physical and engineering systems, ranging from galaxies and star clusters to urban traffic systems, the presentation attempts to discuss the relevance of various aspects of uncertainty that are pertinent within the context of these systems. It is argued that the recent research into the meaning of uncertainty as a multi-dimensional entity has refined the intuitive and philosophical notions that have withstood well the test of time.