ISSS Conferences: Difference between revisions
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=====Special Interest Groups (SIGs) | =====Special Interest Groups (SIGs)===== | ||
Important part of the conference. These groups cover specific areas like Systemic Risk, Evolutionary Development, Designing Educational Systems, or Spirituality and Systems. | Important part of the conference. These groups cover specific areas like Systemic Risk, Evolutionary Development, Designing Educational Systems, or Spirituality and Systems. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:23, 18 February 2026
The Annual Meeting and Conference is a prestigious, long-running conference that serves as a global gathering point for academics, practitioners, researchers, and students working with systems thinking, cybernetics, and complexity science.
Interdisciplinary Focus
The conference brings together diverse fields—such as biology, sociology, engineering, management, and ecology—under the common umbrella of systems thinking. Attendees often look at "wholes" rather than specialized parts, aiming to apply this perspective to complex global problems.
Structure: Plenaries, SIGs, and Workshops
Plenary Sessions
Feature keynote speakers addressing the core theme of the year.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Important part of the conference. These groups cover specific areas like Systemic Risk, Evolutionary Development, Designing Educational Systems, or Spirituality and Systems.
Interactive Workshops
The ISSS encourages active participation rather than passive listening, often utilizing methods like Systems Design to foster collaboration among attendees.
High-Level Themes
The themes are typically forward-looking and urgent.
- 2025 (Birmingham, UK): Focuses on "Advancing Together: Systemic Collaboration for Global Challenges," highlighting the built environment and digital transformation.
- 2026 (Cyprus - 70th Anniversary): Focuses on "Elevating Systems Science to Address Humanity's Greatest Challenges," emphasizing AI, General Systems Science, and real-world application.
Networking and Community
Due to its relatively small size (often ranging from 100 to a few hundred participants), the ISSS annual meeting is known for being highly conversational and nurturing. It is a place where senior pioneers in the field mingle freely with students and newcomers.
Evolution of Context
While historically academic, the recent meetings place a strong emphasis on systems practice—moving from theoretical models to real-world applications (e.g., sustainability, regenerative development, and policy making).
Number: 23