
systems science, design science, citizen science, and data science
critical systems thinking
papers & panels
educating systemic designers
unity of purpose
Hosted by Loughborough University | October 13 & 14, 2023 | Loughborough Campus, East Midlands, UK
In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, the integration of multiple disciplines has become essential to address complex challenges in climate, healthcare, energy, advanced technologies, to name a few. This RSD12 hub brings together researchers and practitioners who are interested in exploring the synergy between systems science, design science, citizen science and data science and their potential to solve complex challenges facing our societies.
We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event and exploring the potential of synergies between these fields and beyond.
A brighter future for both systems thinking and pragmatism
By explicitly embracing pragmatism, and taking it forward through critical systems thinking and practice, systems thinking can realize the hopes of the original pioneers and chart a bright future for itself. A shared philosophical orientation will bring greater mutual understanding between the currently disparate strands of the systems movement and more unity of purpose.
—Michael Jackson (2023) | RSD12 Keynote
REFERENCE
Jackson, M. (2023, April 04). Pragmatism and critical systems thinking: Back to the future of systems thinking. Integration and Implementation Insights.
Loughborough University School of Design
Policymakers, researchers, practitioners and students are invited to participate in this exciting transdisciplinary two-day systemic design symposium.
RSD12-LOUGHBOROUGH is organised by a team of researchers/practitioners from Loughborough University, who are responsible for programming and planning the event. The two-day symposium will be held on the Loughborough University campus, centrally located in the East Midlands and easily accessible by rail and road.
School of Design and Creative Arts
- Professor Thomas Jun (socio-technical system design)
- Dr Cecilia Landa-Avila (systemic design)
- Professor Patrick Waterson (human factors and complex systems)
- Dr Marianna Coulentianos (socially-engaged design)
- Dr Val Mitchell (UX design)
- Dr Carolina Escobar-Tello (sustainable design)
- Dr Garrath Wilson (experience design)
- Dr Shichao Zhao (digital creativity)
- Dr Simon Downs (graphic communication)
- Dr George Torrens (industrial design)
School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
- Dr Melanie King (systems engineering)
- Dr Ella-Mae Hubbard (systems engineering)
- Dr Siyuan Ji (systems engineering)
- Dr Mey Goh (transdisciplinary digital manufacturing)
- Professor Michael Henshaw (systems engineering)
School of Business and Economics
- Dr Antuela Tako (operations research)
- Professor Ian Hodgkinson (strategic decision-making)
Some participants manifested that a timeline was too simple to represent the complexity of the system. Consequently, participants opted to express complexity through messy connections and organic circle structures.
—Cecilia Landa-Avila, Gyuchan Thomas Jun, Rebecca Cain, and Carolina Escobar-Tello (2018)
Reference
Landa-Avila I.C., Jun Gyuchan T., Cain R., & Escobar-Tello C. (2018). Holistic Outcome-Based Approach towards Sustainable Design Healthcare: Aligning the system purpose through system visualisation. Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design, RSD7. https://rsdsymposium.org/sustainable-design-healthcare/
TWO DAY SYMPOSIUM
full ticket | other options avail.- The full price is £100 for two days and a social evening, with the option to buy only one day. There is also reduced price for students.
Interdisciplinary collaboration between three schools.
School of Design and Creative Arts | School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering | School of Business and Economics
In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, the integration of multiple disciplines has become essential to address complex challenges. Our hub will bring together researchers and practitioners who are interested in systems thinking and design and their potential to solve complex challenges facing our societies.
messy connections and organic circle structures
Professor Rebecca Cain | RSD12-LOUGHBOROUGH PANEL
Programme
Synergies between sciences seeks systemic design projects with elements of one or several disciplines to build evaluative and foresight capabilities for complex problems.
The topics of discussion will include the combination of two or more of the following fields:
- Systems science in designing and managing complex systems
- Design science in developing innovative solutions to societal problems
- Citizen science in engaging communities in research and decision-making
- Data science in extracting insights and knowledge from complex data sets
The full two-day programme brings together peer-reviewed papers, panels, and a workshop for critical discussions that explore synergies between systems science, design science, citizen science, and data science.
Friday, October 13
- Synergies and transdisciplinary panel
- Engagement panel
Saturday, October 14
- Hopeful synergies workshop and panel
- Climate Action panel
- Health panel
… this fireside conversation will explore and tease out the issues that have made it difficult for design and systems academics and practitioners to arrive in this present moment in a conversation framed as systemic design.
—Ray Ison introductory note to RSD12-Loughborough panel
synergies entanglements
How can we foster and sustain (un)conventional collaboration across disciplines and actors?
How can we foster fair citizen engagement to contribute to the understanding of complex issues and systemic change?
How can we develop wisdom from big data to shape what we do now and what we want to achieve in the future?
How can we develop collective sense-making, collective decision-making and collective change-making?
RSD12-LOUGHBOROUGH Organisers
Contact: rsd12gb@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk
Thomas Jun is a design educator/system scientist/participatory design facilitator and an animation/film producer working in human-centred design, healthcare system design and system safety. He co-founded a Human Factors and Complex Systems Research Group and currently leads an AI development for multiple long-term conditions project and the Systemsthinking lab.
Cecilia Landa-Avila is interested in delving into the complexity of contemporary global challenges to transition towards equitable, just and sustainable health and well-being societies. Her research interest stands at the intersections of systems thinking, participatory/shared-power design and design for equity and decolonisation.