UK-based Systems Conferences and Events

Over the northern summer there are two Systems conferences being held in England and one event.   For anyone living in and around London or visiting on the 31st May you are cordially invited to a launch of our four new books prepared for the new MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) programme at the Open University Office in London (Camden - see attached) from 6-8pm.  (Please note the RSVP).  The first conference is the ISSS conference at the University of Hull.   The second is the UKSS conference.   Details follow.

1. Official Launch of new suite of books for STiP Programme at OU - May 31st, London

For further background on STiP see my earlier posting.

2. ISSS
The 55th Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences will be held at Hull University Business School, Hull, UK from July 17-22, 2011.

Theme: All together now – working across disciplines: People, principles and practice

Important Dates

•  April 30, 2011: The end of early, discounted registration.
•  May 15, 2011: The deadline for full papers. Only ONE submission per registered participant will be accepted for the conference.
• June 1, 2011. The final deadline for abstracts, recognising that abstracts may not be developed into full papers for this conference. Only ONE abstract per registered participant will be accepted for the conference.
• June 1, 2011. The deadline for poster abstract submission. Posters are exempt from the one abstract/paper submission rule.

Special integration groups (SIGs) and exploratory sessions are being planned in the following areas (see the website for contact details for each group):
Agent-based Social Systems
Arts-based Inquiry
Balancing Individualism and Collectivism
Critical Systems Theory & Practice
Designing Educational Systems
Economic and Financial Systems
Evolutionary Development
Foundations of Information Systems
Hierarchy Theory  
Human Systems Inquiry
Information Systems Design and Information Technology
ISSS Roundtable   
Living Systems Analysis
Medical and Health Systems
Organizational Transformation and Social Change
Research Towards General Theories of Systems
Service Systems Science
Socio-Ecological Systems
Spirituality and Systems
Student SIG   
Systemic Approaches to Conflict and Crises
Systemic Approaches to Poverty and Disadvantage
Systems Applications in Business & Industry
Systems Biology and Evolution
Systems and Mental Health
Systems Modeling and Simulation
Systems Pathology
Systems Specific Technology
What is Life and Living

Social Programs
There will be a welcome reception on Sunday evening, July 17. The conference banquet will be held on Thursday, July 21.

The registration fee includes:
* The program/abstract book
* 2011 CD-ROM proceedings
* Reception on Sunday July 17
* ISSS membership fees for 2012
The registration fees also includes tea/coffee breaks and lunches from Monday to Thursday.

The registration fee does not cover accommodation or transportation expenses to and from the conference site.

Accommodation ranges from very well-appointed University rooms to mid- and upper-range hotels.

For further details please check the website  or contact isssoffice@dsl.pipex.com


3. UKSS

UK Systems Society Conference 2011

Thursday 1st ­ Friday 2nd September 2011 St Anne¹s College, University of Oxford

Call for Papers and Workshops & AGM announcement

Paper submission is open from now until 31 May 2011; Registration opens 21 March 2011

The Future of Systems Learning¹

Keynote Speakers:

Professor John Naughton, University of Cambridge (1st Sep.)

Dr. Martin Reynolds, Open University (2nd Sep.)

The Conference Committee invites contributions from Systems thinkers, whether academic or practitioners. Solicited contributions can be in the form of full papers, posters or proposals to organise a pre-event workshop. Particular topics of interest will include for this year, but are not restricted to, the following:

• Pedagogy of Systems and developing Systems skills
• The value of Systems learning for the individual, the organisation and society
• The professionalisation¹ of Systems practice: why, how, what, when
• Systems teaching and training case studies
• Linking Systems research and professional practice with teaching and learning
• Delivering Systems skills below Higher Education

Full papers are invited relating primarily to the areas outlined above. All submissions will be peer-reviewed by at least two members of the refereeing panel (in respect of academic works) or editorially reviewed by the general and programme chairs (in respect of accounts of Systems practice). Papers will be available in electronic format during the conference, and a small number of high-quality papers will be selected for publication to a special edition of the Society¹s official journal, the Systemist, to be published following the conference. Please note that eligibility for publication in this special issue will also depend upon at least one of the authors registering for and attending the Conference.

Contributors who do not wish to submit full papers can consider submitting posters. Posters will be displayed at special sessions during the conference.

The Committee also invites ideas for a half-day workshop with the intention of selecting one as a precursor to the main conference event. Attendance of the workshop will be charged additionally to the main event. The selected workshop facilitator will be awarded a complimentary place to attend the conference. Workshop topics may vary and can include introduction to particular Systems methods and techniques that are of interest to the Systems community, hands-on practical applications etc. If you intend to submit a bid for a workshop, please explain in a single A4 page the aim and learning objectives of your proposal, the intended format, any special requirements for equipment, facilities or software etc.

Conference Committee
Conference Chair:  Theo Tryfonas, University of Bristol, UK
Refereeing Panel Chair: John Davis, University of Bristol, UK
Refereeing Panel: Rick Adcock, Cranfield University, UK
Peter Bednar, University of Portsmouth, UK
Laurence Brooks, Brunel University, UK
Sarah Cornell, University of Bristol, UK
Jeremy Hilton, Cranfield University, UK
Ady James, UCL, UK
Maria Karyda, University of Aegean, GR
Vasilis Katos, Democritus University of Thrace, GR
Spyros Kokolakis, University of Aegean, GR
Laura Lacey, Cranfield University, UK
Neil McBride, De Montfort University, UK
Steve McIntosh, Cardiff University, UK
Steve Probert, Higher Education Academy, UK
Ian Roderick, Schumacher Institute, UK
Frank Stowell, University of Portsmouth, UK
Joanne Tippet, University of Manchester, UK
Christine Welch, University of Portsmouth, UK
Leroy White, University of Bristol, UK
Jennifer Wilby, University of Hull, UK
Mike Yearworth, University of Bristol, UK
Louise Yngstrom, Stockholm University, SE

Key Dates
Deadline for workshop proposals                   30 April 2011
Deadline for paper submission                        31 May 2011
Feedback to authors                                      30 June 2011
Registration opens                                          21 March 2011
Early bird period ends                                    30 June 2011

Submission Guidelines
Papers should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word format using Times New Roman typeface and 12pt size. Major headings should be 14pt size. All figures and tables must be supplied in camera-ready format, within text and in a form that will still be legible if reduced by up to 50%. Papers should conform to the Harvard referencing standard to a maximum of one side of A4. A title page must be provided and should include the title of the paper, author name(s), affiliation, address and abstract of 100-150 words with a maximum of 5 relevant key words. Submission is via email to submissions@ukss.org.uk 

Printed poster dimensions should be no larger than A1 size and submitted electronically in .pdf, or .ppt format only to the same address as above submissions@ukss.org.uk  .

UKSS AGM 2011
During the conference the UK Systems Society¹s annual general meeting will take place as usual. This is scheduled for September 1st, 5pm at the conference venue.


For fees and other details contact  the organisers by emailing conference2011@ukss.org.uk or go to the web site.

St Anne¹s College is situated in the heart of the University town of Oxford, conveniently placed for rail and coach links and within walking distance of the City Centre. It is situated in 5 acres of pleasant grounds. Accommodation is in modern rooms with tea and coffee making facilities. All conference sessions are in rooms adjacent to the accommodation.