Loughborough, UK

Systems science, design science, citizen science, and data science

In today’s complex and rapidly changing world, the integration of multiple disciplines has become essential to address complex challenges in climate, healthcare, energy, and advanced technologies, to name a few. Loughborough University 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.

Synergies between sciences represents 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

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