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Systems Thinking Ontario

The 50th Meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario happened on the 16th of August, 2017.

“System Dynamics Modeling and Ecological Economics - Ecological economists conceptualize economic systems as embedded within and depending upon ecological and geological systems - of local, regional and planetary scale. Indeed, our economies rely on these greater systems for inputs of raw materials and energy and then return that material and energy to the environment in degraded, difficult to re-use forms. It is hardly surprising then, that the rapidly rising ‘throughput’ of matter and energy - mediated by our growth-oriented economies - is causing wide-scale degradation of our living environment.” Past Meetings: “Embodied Systems Thinking (19/07/2017) - By using the term embodied we mean to highlight two points: first, that cognition depends upon the kinds of experience that come from having a body with various sensorimotor capacities, and second, that these individual sensorimotor capacities are themselves embedded in a more encompassing biological, psychological, and cultural context. (Varela et al. 1991). Systems Thinking makes use of abstract concepts: boundaries, functions, processes, signals, feedback, parts and wholes, in order to rise above the incidental features of some messy, real-world concern, craft an idealized representation – the “system” - and thereby analyze, predict or influence things. Indeed; our Systems Thinking Ontario sessions typically entail reading abstract, theoretical papers and engaging in intellectual discussions focused on various key concepts, ideals and representations - piling abstraction upon abstraction - lots of thinking. The Circular Economies (15/03/2017) - 2017, 2030 and Beyond. Innovative planners, policy-makers, architects, engineers and designers, across the globe are reconfiguring products, services and supply chains, inspired by the cyclical processes of natural ecosystems. No longer willing to allow products - along with the materials used in their manufacture - to take the one-way street to the landfill site, they are working together to develop alternatives – economically attractive and sustainable Circular Economies. A study of seven European nations found that a shift to a circular economy would reduce each nation’s greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 70% and grow its workforce by about 4% — the ultimate low-carbon economy.”

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