The 2026 Summer School of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (Pyla, Cyprus)
|
The The 2026 Summer School of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (Pyla, Cyprus) is scheduled back-to-back with the 70th (2026) Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, Cyprus and the Reimagining our World Systemically - From Problematique to Purposeful Action (2026) symposium.
The 2026 Summer School marks the first summer school formally organized and implemented by the International Society for the Systems Sciences. Scheduled as a preceding activity of the 70th (2026) Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences, Cyprus and also the Reimagining our World Systemically - From Problematique to Purposeful Action (2026) international symposium, benefits from the presence of a wide mixture of actors, including:
- University students interested to expand and/or formalize their knowledge and skills about systems, systemic thinking, cybernetics, and complexity
- Academics interested to share their knowledge and skills with a wider international audience
- Practitioners interested to deepen their theoretical knowledge and acquaint themselves with diverse methodologies
- Governance and civil society actors interested to apply concepts from systems, systemic thinking, cybernetics, and complexity
- Universities interested to endorse the summer school courses
Aims and Objectives
- To promote International Society for the Systems Sciences's overall purpose toward the development of conceptual frameworks based on general system theory, as well as their implementation in practice.
- To encourage research and facilitate communication between and among scientists and professionals from various disciplines and professions at local, regional, national, and international levels.
- To promote interdisciplinary and international co-operation in the field of systems theory and systems science for the benefit of humanity and nature.
- To increase the number of people who understand and appreciate the value of utilizing 2nd and 3rd phase science (in contrast to Newtonian linear approaches) to address humanity’s contemporary complex, heavily interconnected socio-technical challenges.
- To call for moving from theory to action.
Invited Course leaders
The following systems scientists have been invited to deliver short courses and/or participatory-experiential workshops during the summer school (alphabetical order):
- Aleco Christakis
- Roxana Cárdenas
- Roelien Goede
- Ray Ison
- Louis Klein
- Yiannis Laouris
- Gerald Midgley
- Norma Romm
- Sotos Shiakides
- Reynaldo Treviño-Cisneros
Summer School Format
The summer school program follows the same structure each day as follows:
| Time | Course | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 08:45-09.15 | Arriving - Welcoming | Coffee |
| 09:15-10.00 | Lecture | A lecture by a prominent systems scientist to introduce the theme of the morning |
| 10:00-12.00 | Theory | Attendees are offered a "formal" mini course on the theme of the day and handed over course notes on the theoretical concepts |
| 12:00-13.00 | Revisit Theory | The Course leaders revisit and deepen on the theoretical aspects, offering examples from real-world-applications. Participants many bring up their own examples and challenges they face. |
| 13:00-14.00 | Lunch break | Lunch is provided in the University's Cafeteria (included in the fee) |
| 14:00-15.00 | Workshop | Course leaders engage attendees in participatory exercises to practice systemic thinking and other concepts of the day's theme |
| 15:00-15.15 | Coffee Break | Short Stretching Break |
| 15:15-16.00 | Workshop (continued) | same as above |
| 16:00-16.15 | Day Closure | Attendees offer feedback and share their learning |
Place
All events are hosted by UCLan Cyprus: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gj8bFFjNnhD7Fcyu6
UCLan Cyprus has a history of collaboration with Future Worlds Center, which started when their UK campus honoured and appointed Yiannis Laouris as “Honorary Fellow” of the School of Sciences. In 2016, they sponsored all spaces and offered accommodation (in students' dormitories) at reduced prices for our Cyprus Protopia Futuriser, an experimental educational project designed and implemented by Global Education Futures.
Certification
All participants will receive a certificate of attendance issued by the International Society for the Systems Sciences, as well as certificates issued by those delivering their respective courses.
