Institution
Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa

Web Site
http://www.en.ujd.edu.pl/

Factual description
I have analyzed the course “Organic Chemistry of Natural Compounds” given by Prof. Claudio Santi as visiting professor at JDU University of Czestochowa and for the Bachelor Degree in Biotechnology. Prof. Santi applies Systems Thinking to the chemistry of Natural compounds envisioned as a Complex System. He introduces the concept of Complexity, explaining that it is a feature of the living systems and a consequence of life's chemistry. The chemistry of the Natural Compounds and the secondary metabolites is the fingerprint of a systemic interaction among different living systems and the environment. In the context of the chemistry of natural organic compounds, the set of metabolic pathways, of their stimulus and inhibition stimuli also determined by the interactions with the external environment, the ability to generate molecules capable of self-aggregating to give macromolecules, cells, multicellular organisms and different species interacting in symbiotic and / or competitive manner represents a perfect example of complex system.
Prof. Santi presents complexity as the further step that will involve all the disciplines in the present or soon. He thinks that all the -omic sciences could be really efficient to describe the features of any biological Complex System. This statement is particularly valid for investigating complexity in a biological environment that can be measured in terms of qualitative and quantitative chemical composition. Furthermore, also network science is of pivotal interest in the meaning of my course. Prof. Santi thinks it is important to help and gradually drive systemic thinking in the students. Students have to be actively involved in the process by using the focus group techniques or organizing sections of problem-solving in the form of games of roles.

Relevance in complex systems
This course is relevant for the development of Complexity Science because it applies the Complex System concept to the chemistry of Natural Products.

Strong points
Sustainability is the most relevant target for our society, but at the same time, it is also the most abused and misused world. First of all, it is necessary to clean all the claims (and marketing claims) that were constructed around the term sustainability or sustainable development. Furthermore, it is required to focus the attention on the different levels of the complex system interconnections. Starting from a specific need and its proposed technical solution, all the interdisciplinary interconnections must be elucidated: economic, ethical, environmental ones (energetic costs, vastest productions, pollution). In Santi’s opinion, the concept of Life Cycle Assessment combined with that of Ecological Fingerprint could be a good starting point.

Transferability potential
Prof. Santi organizes a section of problem-solving around the production of bioplastics. “How to reduce the impact of non-degradable packaging”? He divides the class into groups, each one with a specific role: the chemist employed in a multinational chemical company, the chemist employed in an international biotech company, a farmer, a poor person in Mexico, a wealthy investor from USA, a supermarket owner, an owner of a small shop, a geneticist, a journalist, an agronomist. As a teacher, he leads the discussion with specific questions proposed according to the discussion's development.