Plenary Talks: Archived Webpage from the First i2S Conference

PLEASE NOTE: This page is under construction.

In particular, currently links below go to an external sister (i2S) website at: https://i2s.anu.edu.au/

Projects sub-menu

Plenary talks

Plenary speakers will provide digests of concepts and methods, exemplary case studies and education insights from inter- and trans-disciplinarity, systems thinking, complexity, implementation science, unknowns, project management, action research and more.

There will be 16 plenary talks to provide an overview of a range of different methodologies or case studies illustrating their application. Eight of the plenary talks will be live in Canberra, one will be live at the German co-conference (a joint presentation by Vilsmaier and Bergmann) and seven will be provided via live video (Bradbury-Huang, Contractor, Fixsen and Klein from the USA, Fulton from Tasmania in Australia, Jaeger from Austria and Polk from Sweden). All of the talks will be provided as a live video stream (webcast) and available for later download.

The conference will be opened by:

Photos and bios are provided after the plenary talks information, towards the end of this page.

Plenary talks information

i2s_bammer

Gabriele Bammer
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Combining Forces: A New Discipline to Underpin Diverse Approaches to Research Integration and Implementation

ABSTRACT: Could a new discipline – Integration and Implementation Sciences (i2S) – provide a systematic way to allow people to effectively mix-and-match concepts and methods… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Gabriele Bammer is developing the new discipline of Integration and Implementation Sciences (i2S)… [MORE]

i2s_bradbury-huang

Hilary Bradbury Huang
(Live webcast from the USA)

TITLE: Action Research and the Transformation of Knowledge Creation

ABSTRACT: Some say the scholar-practitioner form of knowledge creation started with Kurt Lewin in the 1950’s. Others contend that it is the most natural form of knowledge creation practiced by people throughout time… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Hilary Bradbury Huang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Division of Management at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Her research, scholarly activism and teaching focus on the human… [MORE]

i2s_contractor

Noshir Contractor
(Live webcast from the USA)

TITLE: Some Assembly Required: Networking and Team Science for the 21st Century

ABSTRACT: Recent technological advances provide comprehensive digital traces of social actions, interactions, and transactions. These data provide an unprecedented exploratorium to model… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Noshir Contractor is the Jane S. and William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science… [MORE]

i2s_crawford

Lynn Crawford
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Managing Projects as an Inter-disciplinary and Integrative Practice

ABSTRACT: Project management, as a field of practice and aspiring discipline has enjoyed strong professional formation, driven by active associations of practitioners. In promoting project management as a discipline… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Lynn Crawford is Professor of Systemic Management at the Institute for the Study of Coherence and Emergence (ISCE), Visiting Professor at Cranfield University School of Management, UK… [MORE]

i2s_fixsen

Dean L. Fixsen
(Live webcast from USA)

TITLE: Applied Implementation Science

ABSTRACT: Implementation science is based on observations and evidence accumulated since the 1960s. Even at this early stage, it is becoming clear there is a continuum of research… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Dean L. Fixsen, Ph.D. began his career in human services in 1963 as a psychiatric aide in a large state hospital for children with profound developmental delays… [MORE]

i2s_fulton

Beth Fulton
(Live webcast from Hobart, Australia)

TITLE: Complexity Science in Action: Examples from Multiple Use Environments in Australian Coastal Zones

ABSTRACT: Resource managers deal with complex systems on a daily basis. The work by researchers such as Elinor Ostrom shows that it is possible to find means of sustainably exploiting natural systems and resources… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Beth Fulton has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Tasmania. She is a Principal Research Scientist with the CSIRO. She developed the Atlantis modelling framework, used to provide strategic advice… [MORE]

i2s_jaeger

Jill Jaeger
(Live webcast from Austria)

TITLE: Transforming the Knowledge System to Support Research Integration and Implementation

ABSTRACT: Responding to the persistent problems of unsustainability and other global challenges needs a transformation of the knowledge system as a whole. This includes a transformation in research funding and in education… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Jaeger is an independent scholar and senior researcher at the Sustainable Europe Research Institute (SERI). She graduated with a PhD in Geography (Climatology) from the University of Colorado in 1974… [MORE]

Michael Keelty
(Live in Canberra) Unable to attend at the last minute. Replaced by Professor Mark Burgman on “Expert Judgment in Risk Analysis”)

TITLE: Is it Feasible to have Predictable Responses to Unpredictable Events?

ABSTRACT: Most government discipline organisations such as the military, police and emergency management services are well versed in standard operating procedures (SOPs). They are designed to produce… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Michael Keelty AO APM is undertaking a review of the Queensland Department of Community Safety (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Emergency Management and Corrections) and is an Adjunct Professor… [MORE]

i2s_klein

Julie Klein
(Live webcast from USA)

TITLE: Interdisciplinarity Then, Now, and Into Networked Futures

ABSTRACT: Interdisciplinarity is nearing its 100th anniversary, dating from the earliest documented uses of the term in the early 20th century. This overview identifies major developments… MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Julie Thompson Klein is Faculty Fellow for Interdisciplinary Development in the Division of Research and Professor of Humanities in the English Department at Wayne State University (USA)… [MORE]

i2s_midgley

Gerald Midgley
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: An Introduction to Systems Thinking: Integration and Implementation in the Face of Wicked Problems

ABSTRACT: This talk provides an introduction to systems thinking for people with little prior knowledge of the field. It is useful to identify four key systems thinking skills… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Gerald Midgley is Professor of Systems Thinking at the University of Hull, UK. He also holds Adjunct Professorships at the University of Queensland, Australia… MORE]

i2s_pohl

Christian Pohl
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Heuristics of Transdisciplinary Research

ABSTRACT: Transdisciplinary research (of the European sustainability style) is research that combines knowledge of different disciplines and engages with societal actors… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Christian Pohl has a PhD in environmental sciences, is co-director of the transdisciplinarity-net of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences and core member of the Transdisciplinarity Lab… [MORE]

i2s_polk

Merritt Polk
(Live webcast from Sweden)

TITLE: Does Transdisciplinarity Contribute to Sustainability? Testing and Evaluating a Framework for Transdisciplinary Knowledge Production for Sustainable Social Change

ABSTRACT: It is commonly assumed that transdisciplinary research is more able to contribute to societal problem solving than traditional forms of research. This assumption is based on the analytical belief… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Merritt Polk is an Associate Professor in Human Ecology at the School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg. She is also a co-director at Mistra-Urban Futures, a transdisciplinary Center… [MORE]

i2s_richardson

George Richardson
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Models that Matter: System Dynamics Applications with Impact

ABSTRACT: An overview of several high profile system dynamics model-based applications, selected to show what such models look like, how they emerged (often in multidisciplinary interventions)… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: George P. Richardson is O’Leary Professor of Public Administration and Policy in the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany… [MORE]

i2s_smithson_larger

Michael Smithson
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Dealing with Unknowns

ABSTRACT: The problem of dealing with unknowns does not reside in any one discipline. Instead, it inhabits many disciplines. Nearly all disciplines and practice domains have perspectives on the unknown… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Michael Smithson is a Professor in the Research School of Psychology at The Australian National University in Canberra, and received his PhD from the University of Oregon… MORE]

i2s_vilsmaier

Ulli Vilsmaier and Matthias Bergmann
(Live at the German co-conference in Lueneburg and live webcast)

TITLE: Mixing and Coupling Methods in Transdisciplinary Research and Research-Based Learning

ABSTRACT: Transdisciplinary research is based on the objects of integration and implementation. The research process aims to create space for common thinking, mutual learning and joint action… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: Ulli Vilsmaier is Junior Professor for Transdisciplinary Methods at Leuphana University in Lueneburg, Germany. She is a member of the inter-faculty Center of Methods and the Institute for Ethics and… [MORE]

i2s_bergmann

BIOGRAPHY: Matthias Bergmann is a senior researcher at the Institute for Social-ecological Research (ISOE) in Frankfurt, Germany where he is part of the research unit Transdisciplinary Methods and Concepts (since 2000)… [MORE]

i2s_young

John Young
(Live in Canberra)

TITLE: Knowledge vs Politics: How Research can Contribute to Better Policy

ABSTRACT: We live in an increasingly interconnected world where there are few simple policy solutions to complex, often “wicked” problems, and an increasing number of stakeholders… [MORE]

BIOGRAPHY: John Young is Director of impact Assessment, Partnerships and RAPID, Research and Policy in Development. John Young joined ODI in May 2001 after five years in Indonesia… [MORE]

Opening talks information​

i2s_young

Ian Young
(Live in Canberra)

BIOGRAPHY: Professor Ian Young AO was appointed Vice-Chancellor and President of The Australian National University in March 2011. Previously he was Vice-Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology from 2003 until taking up his role at ANU… [MORE]

i2s_bronitt

Simon Bronitt
(Live in Canberra)

BIOGRAPHY: Simon Bronitt is Director of CEPS. Simon was previously a Professor of Law in the ANU College of Law and Associate Director of the Australian Centre for Military Law and Justice, ANU. Between 2006-9 he served as the Director of the ANU Centre of European Studies in the Research School of Humanities… [MORE]

Aidan Byrne
(Live in Canberra)

BIOGRAPHY: Professor Aidan Byrne is CEO of the Australian Research Council. He was appointed in July 2012. Professor Byrne is a welcomed force at the ARC to help deliver its key priorities and deliverables… [MORE]