Brisbane 2009

ISSS2009

53rd Meeting of The International Society for the Systems Sciences

University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Australia

July 12-17, 2009

http://isss.org/world/en/brisbane-2009

Making Livable, Sustainable Systems Unremarkable

There are several ideas in this theme for the Australian meeting of the ISSS.  First is the notion of making systems thinking unremarkable.  As devotees of systems thinking we are constantly puzzled as to why it is kept gently but firmly out of science and mainstream problem solving.  There are modeling approaches, chaos and power law complexity, but that does not often capture the reflexive point of view that comes with systems thinking. But now the time might be right, as a post-modern and post-normal view becomes itself unremarkable.  Modernist realism gives way to more sophisticated epistemologies of a systems ilk. 

Second is the issue of sustainability in times of transition in energy sources, water scarcity and land use.  Again it is not the material reality of the situation that is crucial, since we do not have access to reality.  Rather it is a matter of sustainability of what, for whom, for how long, and at what cost?  Sustainability is a matter of values, so get those values sorted out, and then we can talk sustainable. 

But then finally is livability as a constraint on what sustainability will be.  That means that if sustainability is does not offer a livable environment for the people who have a say, then it will not happen.  Conversely, it is easy to sell livability, even when it is blatantly not sustainable.  

 “Some commentators regard liveability as a more local or short-term manifestation of sustainability while others see it as a necessary but insufficient pre-requisite of sustainability” (Brook Lyndhurst, 2004). In practice however, this has not prevented unsustainable actions in the name of liveability. Transport, for example is one such area in which the “pursuit of personal ‘liveability’ can conflict with the liveability of whole neighbourhoods and the community, and more widely with that of sustainable development”. There are many other examples of how liveability, especially in urban and peri-urban areas (where more than 80% of Australians live), is affected by the ability of people to have access to and benefit from a physical and cultural environment, key facilities and services, and a secure and supportive community. Can liveability be achieved in cooperation with achieving sustainability?

The four questions for sustainability in fact address the livability issue. 

•  “For whom” speaks of people prepared to sacrifice for some longer run? 
•  “For how long” addresses the aftermath of livability decisions? 
•  “At what cost” is the cost of less than easy livability? 
•  “Of what” is the identification of what comes when a particular livability scenario is over?

In the upshot this meeting will address systems education with regard to practice and theory.  It will include case histories that will often be local to Australia, but will also include global scenarios as well.  It will put people in their environment as a system in a way that need not be so self-conscious, rather invoking common sense.   After the meeting we may be better equipped to enter mainstream problem solving and be welcome there.

There will also be a pre-conference Training Workshop in Systems Thinking and Practice, with special reference to developing countries (sponsored by UNESCO).

Our Host will be The School of Natural and Rural Systems Management at the University of Queensland, Gatton campus, near Brisbane.

UQ Gatton is located in South East Queensland, Australia, under an hours drive west of Queensland's capital city of Brisbane.

Nestled in the heart of the Lockyer Valley, the Campus is five minutes drive from the township of Gatton and is also close to a number of major centres including Toowoomba which is a 25 minute drive to the west and Ipswich, a 40 minute drive to the east.

We look forward to seeing you in Queensland!

Professor Timothy F H Allen, President 2008-09

Professor Ockie Bosch, VP Membership and Conferences

Major content includes:

• Brisbane 2009 Conference Announcement and Call for Participation
• Brisbane 2009 Featured Speakers
• Brisbane 2009 Co-Host and Conference Partners
• Brisbane 2009 Committees
• Brisbane 2009 Venue
• Brisbane 2009 Important Dates

Major content yet to come includes:

• Brisbane 2009 Planning
• Brisbane 2009 Letter from the President
• Brisbane 2009 Calls for Papers including SIG Calls and Other Proposed Sessions
• Preparing and Submitting Abstracts and Papers for  ISSS Brisbane 2009
• Brisbane 2009 Program
• Brisbane 2009 Registration
• Brisbane 2009 Accommodation and Guided Tours (link to official travel agent site)
• Brisbane 2009 Vickers Award for Best Student Paper
• Local Information - Offered by the Local Organizing Committee - updated July 6, 2007

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