The Africa Science Leadership Program (ASLP) is a new initiative of the University of Pretoria and the Global Young Academy, with the support of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. It aims to grow mid-career African academics in the areas of thought leadership, team management and research development, with the intention of enabling them to contribute to the development of a new paradigm for science in African, focused on its contribution to solving the complex issues facing both Africa and the global community. The leadership program aims to: Identify early- to mid-career academics who have demonstrated leadership potential and an interest in [...]

The Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) is a worldwide network, founded in 2008, to enhance the science and practical application of ecosystem services. To facilitate the needed dialogue between scientists, policy makers and practitioners ESP organises an annual international conference in different parts of the world. The 8th World ESP conference will be held in South Africa from 9-13 November 2015. The central theme is ‘Ecosystem Services for Nature, People and Prosperity’. The conference will pay special attention to the public and private sector dialogue on how the ecosystem services concept can be used to support conservation, improve livelihoods and engage the business community. [...]

Governing the Anthropocene: the greatest challenge for systems thinking in practice? The 59th Meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences will be held in Berlin, Germany, August 2 - 7, 2015. Conference co-hosts, Ray Ison (ISSS President) and Louis Klein (ISSS Vice President for Conferences), extend an invitation to join us in Berlin from the 2nd-7th August 2015 for a conference that: challenges systems thinkers, researchers, practitioners , scientists to reflect upon what they do, or might do, in governing the Anthropocene; creates an opportunity for you to contribute a paper or papers relevant to the conference theme and which fit [...]

PhD Course - Systems Thinking and Practice in PhD Research: Cybersystemic Possibilities for Governing the Anthropocene 30 July – 7 August 2015, Germany   Comprising • Two days of participation in a Systemic Inquiry in Hannover (Herrenhausen) on “Governing the Anthropocene: Cybersystemic Possibilities?" • Two days of dedicated ‘workhops’ introducing different systems approaches, methods and research traditions at Humbolt University in Berlin • Five days of participation in the 2015 ISSS Conference in Berlin, including a group generated presentation on the final day • 5 ECTS - points As part of the activities in Germany this year associated with the [...]

MISS-ABMS 2015 Multi-platform International Summer School on Agent-Based Modelling & Simulation for Renewable Resources Management Montpellier (France) 17-28 August 2015 Content: This summer school is about learning the different skills required for building agent-based models for renewable resources management. It is oriented towards a participatory use of models and simulation and participants will be asked to work in small groups. During the morning sessions, the principles, methods and technics of the design, implementation and exploration stages will be collectively taught. Specific points will be addressed according to the expectations and demands of the participants. The afternoon sessions will be devoted [...]

This is an advertisement for two positions, one at the World Resources Institute (WRI) requiring expertise in climate change adaptation and the United Nations global climate change negotiations, and the other at Resources for the Future for several research assistant positions. 1) Job Title: Pathway to Paris Climate Adaptation Associate Overview The World Resources Institute (WRI) is seeking an Associate with expertise and experience in climate change adaptation and the United Nations global climate change negotiations.  The associate will support adaptation elements of WRI’s efforts to promote an ambitious, effective, and equitable global climate change agreement under the United Nations during [...]

Apply now before 22 March and become part of the TRECCAfrica community! TRECCAfrica addresses one of the world’s greatest environmental challenges: food security in the face of climate change, resource depletion and loss of forests, wildlife and environmental services. Applications from African citizens (including Diaspora) are now invited for the following categories: -­ Full degree Master’s degree scholarships -­ Short term Masters and doctoral exchange scholarships (for applicants currently enrolled in a Master’s or doctoral programme in the home university) -­ Staff exchange awards (only for TRECCAfrica partner university academic and administrative staff) Successful candidates will enrol in a selection [...]

Call for Abstracts: International Conference “MOVING BEYOND RISKS: Organising for Resilience”, which will be held at Hotel Golf in Bled, Slovenia, between 16th and 18th September 2015 The main aim of the conference is to bring together global academic expertise, policy makers and practitioners from High Reliability Organizing, Resilience Engineering, Critical Infrastructures, Risk management and Disasters for developing holistic responses to growing resilience problems. Main conference topics are: Resilience and high reliability – theory for integrated practice (sub-themes can include HRO and NAT theory developments) Risk assessment and management Disaster risk management systems Natural hazards – empirical studies (floods, storms, [...]

Four new Postdoctoral positions on Leverage Points for Sustainability Transformation: institutions, people and knowledge   A pdf of this overview is available here.  Leuphana University Lüneburg’s Faculty of Sustainability is advertising four postdoctoral positions. They will contribute to the transdisciplinary Leverage Points project. Drawing on insights from systems thinking and solution-oriented transdisciplinary research, this project will focus on hitherto underrecognized leverage points – system properties where a small shift can lead to fundamental changes in the system as a whole. Leverage Points will focus on changes in relatively intractable, but potentially highly influential, system properties that could help to realign complex social-ecological systems to [...]

This film traces some of the key aspects of regenerative development and the people who are practicing it – the 'regenerates'. The documentary was composed by Alexander Melck (South Africa) and co-produced by Dominique Hes (Australia) and Chrisna du Plessis (South Africa). It features the ideas and practices of a number of regenerates around the world, bravely trying to make the world a better place. These interviews contribute to the book, Designing for Hope available on Routledge. Visit the Contributive Practice website for more info.