knowledge tree - chunhualiao/public-docs GitHub Wiki

Below is a conceptual “Knowledge Tree” designed for a 21st‑century adult who wants both personal wellbeing and positive societal impact. It is intentionally high‑level so you can map any specific course, book, or experience onto it and quickly spot the “branches” you have not yet climbed.

1. Reading the diagram

               ──● LEAVES = Frontier / emerging themes
             /
       Branch │
              │      ──● BRANCHES = Specialised, career‑shaping domains
            / Root
── ROOTS──┼── TRUNK = Universal core literacies & cross‑cutting capabilities
          │
          └── SOIL = Mindset & wellbeing enablers
  • Dependencies flow upward. A branch draws nutrients from the trunk, which in turn draws from the roots and soil.
  • Gaps reveal themselves when you notice a higher node whose prerequisites are shaky or absent.

2. The Knowledge Tree (textual form)

SOIL  (Enablers of sustainable growth)
├─ Physical health fundamentals (sleep, movement, nutrition)
├─ Psychological resilience & self‑care
└─ Ethical compass & pro‑social mindset

ROOTS  (Foundational literacies)
├─ Native & second‑language proficiency
├─ Numeracy: arithmetic → algebra → calculus basics
├─ Digital & information literacy (search, cybersecurity hygiene, data privacy)
└─ Learning‑to‑learn (metacognition, spaced practice, deliberate practice)

TRUNK  (Universal core disciplines & transversal skills)
├─ Mathematics & statistics              ─┐
├─ Natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology)
├─ Social & behavioural sciences (psychology, economics, sociology)
├─ Arts & humanities (history, philosophy, aesthetics, cultural studies)
├─ Systems thinking & complexity          │  ←— *connective tissue*
├─ Critical thinking & logic              │
├─ Communication (oral, written, visual)  │
└─ Civic, financial & environmental literacies ┘

BRANCH CLUSTERS  (Career‑shaping specialisations; pick several)
├─ Computing & Software
│   ├─ Algorithms & data structures
│   ├─ Networking & cloud
│   ├─ Cyber‑security
│   └─ DevOps & software craftsmanship
├─ Data, AI & Decision Science
│   ├─ Machine learning foundations
│   ├─ Deep learning & generative models
│   ├─ Causal inference & experiment design
│   └─ Responsible/ethical AI
├─ Engineering & Design
│   ├─ Electrical / mechanical / civil
│   ├─ Human‑centred design & UX
│   └─ Rapid prototyping & maker skills
├─ Life Sciences & Health Tech
│   ├─ Genomics & bio‑informatics
│   ├─ Neuroscience & cognitive tech
│   └─ Public‑health systems
├─ Business, Markets & Policy
│   ├─ Strategy & operations
│   ├─ Finance & accounting
│   ├─ Entrepreneurship & venture building
│   └─ Public‑policy design & analysis
└─ Arts, Media & Storytelling
    ├─ Creative writing, film, music
    ├─ Digital content production
    └─ Cultural heritage & preservation

LEAVES  (Cutting‑edge / horizon skills – refresh annually)
├─ Quantum & neuromorphic computing
├─ Synthetic biology & bio‑fabrication
├─ Climate tech & regenerative engineering
├─ Extended reality (AR/VR/MR) & spatial computing
├─ Blockchain & decentralised governance
└─ Geopolitics of technology & AI safety

3. How to use this tree

Step Action Why it matters
1. Map yourself Highlight the nodes you are competent in (courses completed, projects delivered). Provides a visual stock‑take of strengths.
2. Trace dependencies For any desired branch/leaf, check that underlying trunk roots are solid. Prevents “knowledge debt” that hampers progress later.
3. Set goals Pick 1–2 new branches or a leaf to pursue each year, balancing breadth (adjacent fields) and depth (advanced topics). Ensures continual relevance without overload.
4. Integrate & apply Combine distant branches in projects (e.g., AI + public‑health). Innovation often lives at intersections.
5. Refresh leaves Review the leaf layer every 12 months; prune hype, add validated trends. Keeps you oriented toward impactful frontiers.

4. Tips for climbing efficiently

  1. Leverage just‑in‑time learning. Identify a real problem or side project first, then pull the smallest necessary chunk of theory from the tree.
  2. Cultivate meta‑skills early. Learning‑to‑learn, critical thinking, and systems thinking accelerate every other branch.
  3. Guard the soil. No amount of technical mastery offsets chronic burnout or ethical drift.
  4. Document your path. Maintain a living “knowledge map” (e.g., a mind‑map or Obsidian vault) that mirrors the tree and links to notes, papers, and code.
  5. Teach others. Explaining a branch forces root‑level clarity and spreads impact.

5. If you want a visual diagram

The above text can be pasted into a Mermaid renderer (e.g., VS Code extension, GitHub markdown) to get an interactive tree.

graph TD
  soil[SOIL<br>Physical health<br>Resilience<br>Ethics]
  roots[ROOTS<br>Languages<br>Numeracy<br>Digital lit.<br>Meta‑learning]
  trunk[TRUNK<br>Math & Stats<br>Natural Sci.<br>Social Sci.<br>Arts & Hum.<br>Systems & Critical thinking<br>Communication<br>Civic/Financial/Env.]
  branches[BRANCHES]
  leaves[LEAVES<br>Quantum<br>Synthetic bio<br>XR<br>Climate tech<br>Blockchain<br>Geopolitics of tech]
  soil-->roots-->trunk-->branches-->leaves
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Bottom line: Treat the tree as a living map. Regularly tend the soil, strengthen the roots, grow the trunk, explore new branches, and trim or re‑graft leaves as the world—and your aspirations—evolve.

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