Author Description

Uncertainty influences the individual as well as society; so it is important to enhance our understanding of uncertainty. First of all, do we all agree on a unique definition of uncertainty in the natural and technological worlds? Secondly, how can we model uncertainty? Is it purely a state of mind, the lack of complete knowledge, or is it a phenomenon in its own right? What heuristic and mathematical models are available? What types of questions about uncertainty can be formulated? What questions can be realistically answered? Do scholars in diverse fields agree on these issues? These and other questions are addressed by 20 scholars from mechanical, civil, electrical, material, aerospace and ocean engineering, from applied mathematics, economics, industrial engineering and operations research, control theory, geodesy, systems science, and philosophy.