The complexity theory was the subject of a conference that NTU co-organised. The commentary by The Straits Times senior writer, Andy Ho, wrote about the applications of the complexity theory in real life scenarios, citing examples of how complex adaptive systems such as cells, tissues and organs combine to form life, or the millions that make up cities. The writer elaborated on a case study sketched by University of Arizona anthropologist Stephen Lansing (one of the conference speakers), of how self-organising, self-repairing order emerged from unplanned interactions among Balinese rice farmers.