March 9 — 27, 2009
Gunter Pauli, Don Beck, Rob Hopkins, John Wood
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A systemic approach is vital if we are to tackle successfully the complex problems facing society and the environment today, from community responses to climate change and social enterprise, to conflict resolution and social development on a global scale.
Using real life case studies Gunter Pauli will give participants a first hand insight into how income-generating projects that are socially, environmentally and economically sustainable can be designed. Participants will explore Don Beck’s emergence-and-change technology, Spiral Dynamics, which presents a model of how world views and societies develop, and the implications for leadership and social change.
Rob Hopkins will discuss with participants the components of the Transition Towns models that are transforming communities around the world. With John Wood, participants will look broadly at how an integrated approach to design (metadesign) can create a sustainable society at many levels.
This course is intended for: social entrepreneurs, community leaders, designers, policymakers at all levels, and concerned individuals who want insights into the most effective ways to become active for social change.
Week 1:
Gunter Pauli: Nature as Inspiration
Gunter Pauli will explore with course participants how tomorrow’s economy can be realized today by learning, copying and mimicking the way nature has already solved many of the technological and sustainability problems confronting humankind – a systemic approach. “Life solves its problems with well-adapted designs, life-friendly chemistry, and smart material and energy use. What better models could there be? Steam and coal transformed the 19th century; telecommunications and electronics, the 20th. We are now on the edge of a biologically-based revolution “
Such an approach can address a huge range of social and environmental challenges. How can we achieve food security, health services and have water as a commons through one programme, that even makes money in the process? How can we respond to the needs of HIV orphans, deal with invasive species and build up entrepreneurship? How could we respect the culture of the Native Americans, provide charcoal as a fuel without emitting CO2 and generate jobs in the process? The only solution to these questions is a systems approach. Starting from real life case studies, and inspired by projects that have been implemented, the participants will get a first hand insight into how we can design sustainable projects which are sustainable because they are based on a systems design.
Week 2:
Don Beck: Social Transformation
This week will offer an in-depth experience of Dr. Don Beck’s powerful emergence-and-change technology, Spiral Dynamics, which he has developed and made world renowned after original research by Professor Clare W. Graves into biopsychosocial systems.
Don Beck has been developing a number of new applications of Spiral Dynamics which are especially relevant given the current conditions in the UK, the US, and globally. Most of his work has been with cultures, countries, communities, cities, movements etc. that are, today, in considerable conflict. His work in Palestine and in the Netherlands with regard to the growing tension with muslim beliefs and mosque energy fields, has led him to develop a way to “integrate” these force fields. He is launching next year a new branch of psychology called “Psychology at the Large Scale: The Design and Transformation of Whole Societies”. Also, his Transpartisan Decision-making process, and what he call MeshWORKS Solutions, are just in time to address the many issues and problems that President-Elect Obama will be dealing with.
His presentations will construct the DNA-like Master Codes at the core of social systems; explain how these codes express themselves in value systems or memetics, what form these codes take in terms of organizing structures, and how the process of change impacts all of these dynamics. He will use movie clips, music, assessment systems, and a host of ‘war stories’ (many from UK and Europe) that illustrate all of these features. He will move back and forth between theory and specific applications. The course will be conducted like a thoughtful graduate seminar with lots of interaction, late night conversations, and specific case-studies. We will cover the full range of interests from coaching to organization design and development, to community health and well being, educational enrichment, and geopolitical change.
Week 3:
Monday-Tuesday: John Wood will discuss how designers can think more innovatively and responsibly about their practice and its social and environmental implications. Themes he will address include:
Wednesday-Thursday: Rob Hopkins will talk about the Transition Towns movement, a very successful current model of social and environmental change which involves the application of systemic thinking to towns and villages. The first Transition Town was set up three years ago in Totnes to explore and then follow pathways of practical actions that will reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels, and to build the town’s resilience, that is, its ability to withstand shocks from the outside, through being more self reliant in areas such as food, energy, health care, jobs and economics. Rob will give examples of the kinds of projects and strategies the Transition Initiative is pursuing, and discuss how they reflect a systemic philosophy.
Gunter Pauli has created ten companies, including Ecover, and now heads the ZERI Foundation which pioneers initiatives that promote a new, earth-centred economic model.
Don Beck conceived and developed the global applications of Spiral Dynamics. His practical, on-the-ground work in large-scale transformational challenges has included playing a major role in the South African transition from Apartheid.
Rob Hopkins is founder of the Transition Towns movement.
John Wood is Professor of Design at Goldsmiths and author of Design for Micro- Utopias: Making the Unthinkable Possible.
For businesses: One week £1,200, Two weeks £1,800, Three weeks £2,200
For individuals, NGOs & Educators: One week £700, Two weeks £1,300, Three weeks £1,800
These include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.
Masters credits available subject to University approval.
Applying for the MSc in Holistic Science? Please see information on MSc Short Course Options here
We are sorry but Week 1 of Systems Thinking in Practice is now full
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