Workshop: System thinking & integrated approaches to Health & Disease

by | Nov 7, 2017 | News & Updates, Workshop | 0 comments

WORKSHOP | November 7-10 2017, Krabi, Thailand

As nations become increasingly interconnected, globalization grows our social and ecological systems in complex new ways. Technological advancement spawns system after system, each increasing in interdependence on other systems that have come before. International trade ties nations together in economic feedback loops. Policy changes in one nation inevitably cause ripple-effects in another. Systems, if ever they were separated, are indomitably moving towards interconnectedness as we hurtle into a globalized economy and governance. All of these systems feed into each other to produce extremely complex, unpredictable effects. Or, do they?

Workshop rationale

As nations become increasingly interconnected, globalization grows our social and ecological systems in complex new ways. Technological advancement spawns system after system, each increasing in interdependence on other systems that have come before (Internet, GPS, power grid, software APIs, et al.). International trade ties nations together in economic feedback loops. Policy changes in one nation inevitably cause ripple-effects in another. Systems, if ever they were separated, are indomitably moving towards interconnectedness as we hurtle into a globalized economy and governance. All of these systems feed into each other to produce extremely complex, unpredictable effects. Or, do they? So called “Complex” Systems thinking is increasingly recognized to be a necessary “skill” to better understand the deep roots of these complex behaviors in order to better predict them and, ultimately, adjust their outcomes through adaptive capacity, management and policy frameworks.

The objective of this 4-days workshop is three-fold: 1) to clarify how “systems thinking and systems theory” as developed in systems engineering and cybernetics informs “softer” system thinking and transdisciplinary-based frameworks. Clarifying these linkages will help us see what can be improved or enhanced, both conceptually and methodologically. 2) How is system thinking and related methodologies used in the design of integrated policies and contributes to sustainable governance? What can be improved? 3) Discussing how we can enhance systems thinking education and help foster individuals with better systems thinking abilities. How do we communicate systems thinking? What kind of soft skills need to be emphasized?

Goals and Objectives

  • Review the field and its “research problems” and “problématique”, tracing its recent history to the present.
  • Develop a consensus on the scope (and boundaries) that define our community’s research goals, interests and priorities in this area.
  • Discuss our research, practice, technical expertise, understanding, skills based on the three cases developed in the ComAcross project, and in the light of the experiences of all participants.
  • Identify gaps and areas of weaknesses that (ideally vs realistically) could be filled/strengthened with existing or obtainable resources (internal human, financial, and external relationships/networks).
  • Consolidate the discussion points and ideas into general report(s); and, produce a draft paper for publication the draws on the groups’ collective experience, knowledge and case examples.

Tentative schedule and draft agenda

Although the workshop’s schedule is intended to be adaptive, based on participants’ suggestions and discussions outcomes, we propose the following tentative outline.

Day 1: Review of theory, principles and practice

  • Theme 1: Systems thinking, Complexity
  • Theme 2: Ecosystemic Approach to Health and Diseases
  • Theme 3: The Commons and community empowerment
  • Theme 4: Science policy integration and transdisciplinarity
  • Theme 5: Knowledge integration and education

Day 2: Case studies

  • Presentation of the three ComAcross case studies
  • Task groups establishment and planning discussions

Day 3: Focus working groups

  • Analysis of case studies
  • Description of tools and methodologies for integration in case studies contexts
  • Understanding of challenges and institutional barriers to integration and adaptivecapacity in case studies contexts

Day 4: Wrap up and outputs production agenda 

Organization committee

Dr. Raphaël Duboz, PhD – CIRAD

Dr. Pierre Echaubard, PhD – Global Health Group International

Dr. Panomsak Promburom, PhD – Chiang Mai University

Dr. Aurélie Binot, PhD – CIRAD

Dr. Michel de Garinne-Wichatitsky, PhD – CIRAD

Prof. Bruce A. Wilcox, PhD – Global Health Group International

List of invited participants

  1. Will Allen, Learning for Sustainability, New Zealand

Expertise: systems scientist, action research practitioner and evaluator, sustainable development and natural resource management

Link: http://learningforsustainability.net

 

  1. John Ward, Mekong Region Future Institute, Lao PDR

Expertise: integrated natural resource management, participatory processes, science-policy interactions and transdisciplinary research

Link: https://www.merfi.org/about-merfi

  1. Margaret Kilvington, Lyttelton, Christchurch, New Zealand

Expertise: Social Research, Evaluation & Facilitation

Link: http://isref.co.nz/

  1. Ariel Lindner, Center for Interdisciplinary Research, France

Expertise: Systems Engineering and Evolution Dynamics, Interdisciplinary approaches to Life Sciences, research at the interface between art & science.

Link: https://cri-paris.org/team/ariel-lindner/

  1. Guillaume Deffuant, LISC, France

Expertise: Complex socio-ecological systems modeling, cognitive sciences.

Link: http://motive.cemagref.fr/people/guillaume.deffuant

  1. Pierre Echaubard, Global Health Group International, Thailand.

Expertise: Social-ecological systems, Ecology, Global Health, Transdisciplinarity.

 

  1. Raphaël Duboz, CIRAD, France & Institut Pasteur, Cambodia/

Expertise: Systems thinking, Theory of Modeling and Simulation, Companion Modelling.

Link: http://agents.cirad.fr/index.php/Raphael+DUBOZ/infosagent

  1. Aurélie Binot, CIRAD, France

Expertise: Geography, Agronomy, Social anthropology

Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aurelie_Binot

  1. Michel de Garine, CIRAD, France & Kasetsart University, Thailand

Expertise: Ecoheatlh, Companion Modelling, Conservation

Link:https://asie-sud-est.cirad.fr/en/news/newcomers/michel-de-garine-wichatitsky-has-joined-the-university-of-kasetsart-in-bangkok

  1. Panomsak Promburom, Center for Agricultural system research, Thailand

Expertise: Social-ecological systems, Transdisciplinarity, Social sciences, Agronomy, Companion Modelling

Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Panomsak_Promburom2

  1. Bruce A. Wilcox, Global Health Group International, Thailand

Expertise: Social-ecological systems, Ecology, Global Health, Transdisciplinarity

Link: https://ghgi.co/our-team/bruce-a-wilcox/

  1. Nicole De Paula, Global Health Group International, Thailand

Expertise: International relations, Science-policy interaction, governance

Link: https://ghgi.co/our-team/nicole-de-paula/

Partner organizations

The meeting is hosted by CIRAD ComAcross and co-hosted by Global Health Group International, Integrative Research and Education Programme, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University.