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Centre for Systems Studies (CSS) Newsletter January 2026 Issue – Systems Prospects

Centre for Systems Studies (CSS) NewsletterJanuary 2026 Issue – Systems Prospects
Welcome from the Editors  Dear ReadersWelcome to the first newsletter of 2026 from the Centre for Systems Studies at Hull. As we step into this new year, we do so with optimism and purpose.We find ourselves in the middle of several interconnected challenges in the world that demand nothing less than a fundamental shift in how we think and act. Systems thinking offers not just hope, but practical pathways forward. By understanding relationships, feedback loops, and emergent properties, we can move beyond fragmented interventions toward integrated solutions. Most importantly, systems thinking encourages multiple perspectives and allows us to challenge our boundaries. Systems practice enables the platforms and tools for us to convene stakeholders, surface issues, implement solutions, and feed the learning back into our thinking.In this spirit, we called our CSS conference in March Systems thinking, Systems Practice. The conference will be a pivotal gathering for academics, practitioners, policymakers, and changemakers. This conference embodies our commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice — a gap that has historically limited the transformative potential of systems approaches.Practice is not merely the application of theory; it is the crucible where theory is tested, refined, and reimagined. Real-world interventions generate insights that laboratories and classrooms cannot. Through our conference, let us embrace the complexity before us with intellectual courage and practical wisdom. Through systems thinking and systems practice, we can help shape a world that is more resilient, equitable, and sustainable.We have a host of other upcoming news and events that we have covered in the newsletter. As we go ahead with this year, it will be our endeavour to bring to you exciting thought pieces and updates that educate and inspire.Warm regardsMatt and RajMatt Lloyd – m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk
Rajneesh Chowdhury – Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.uk
A Note from the Director of the Centre for Systems Studies  The start of the 2026 is bringing many interesting and relevant projects for our Systemic community. Our main event is the 2026 Systems Conference, which we are hosting in Hull in conjunction with SCiO, the ISFR and the OR Society-SIG.Our aim is to share with attendees what the systems community has to offer for practitioners and the wider community amid the current wave of renewed interest in system thinking from different areas of activity in the public and private sectors. Each stream of systems thinking bring its own valuable insights, and this conference will serve as a forum for presenting our latest work—showcasing how our efforts in different areas support decision-makers at all levels in addressing the challenges they face in their daily activities.This year, we are also joining the global celebration of the centenary of Stafford Beer’s birth. His contributions and influence on systems thinking remain profound and of utmost importance. Several events will be held throughout the year to honour Stafford’s life and work, and we at the CSS are planning a series of special activities, including expert-led sessions, interviews, and a dedicated podcast.In addition, we are developing new academic programmes, knowledge-exchange initiatives, and research projects that are already taking shape. It has been some time since the last systems-focused master’s degree programme was offered in Hull; however, we are now close to launching a new postgraduate programme in collaboration with several partners, designed to provide a practical, hands-on approach to systems thinking. Watch this space for more details and opportunities to collaborate.Finally, our academic collaborations with partners in China, India, Mexico, Colombia, the USA, Canada, and Spain enabled us to host the PhD Colloquium last November. We plan to repeat this event this year, alongside a Summer School on Systems Thinking and Innovation. These collaborations have also led to visits from academic staff from our partner institutions, generating new projects and ideas for future research.From all of us at the Centre for Systems Studies, we wish you a fantastic 2026 and look forward to welcoming you to Hull in March.Kind regardsRoberto Palacios Rodriguez – R.Palacios-Rodriguez@hull.ac.uk
Thought PieceThis March will see the Centre for Systems Studies host a conference at the University of Hull with support from our partners SCiO, OR Society and IFSR.  This conference is shaping up to be an exciting and dynamic event and has already attracted a large number of abstracts, has some exciting workshops planned and will also feature this year’s Mike Jackson Lecture.The Centre for Systems Studies has a proud history of contributing to the field of systems and is the European rival for MIT in terms of developing systems thinking.  But it is never good to live in the past, it is essential that the Centre to continue to strive to be relevant as we go into the second quarter of the 21st century, especially given the complex situations that are emerging as we face increased political extremism, climate change and international conflicts. In order to move the field forward practitioners and academics need to ensure that they develop an understanding of what has been achieved in the past and use that to inform the creation of new tools and methodologies.  Sometimes the easy option s to operate in the comfortable space of well-developed methodologies and to utilise the tools we have experience in using, but if we really wish to be seen to “do what we preach” then it is essential that we encourage and support new ideas whilst ensuring that we make the field as accessible as possible to the systems curious. Historically there seems to have been a divide between the practitioners and the academics, but that has never made much sense given that most of the methodologies have emerged from, what in hindsight, could be considered action research. To move forward to and deliver on the claims that have been made about what systems thinking can deliver, then it is essential that academics and practitioners communicate and engage with each other; academics must let their ideas be tested in practice and practitioners must allow their work to be subjected to academic appraisal.It is the ambition of the organising committee that this conference, named Systems Thinking, Systems Practice 26, becomes the centre point of the systems thinking of the events calendar and an annual event.  I would ask everyone reading this to get involved in whatever way is practical and to work together to help evolve systems thinking in a positive and collaborative direction going forward.Matt Lloyd (Conference Chair)– m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.ukEvents in the Systems CommunitySCiO UK Virtual Development Event, February 10th, 2026  13:00 – 15:00  GMTSCiO’s Development Event offer an opportunity to draw upon the collective expertise of SCiO members in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. By taking Development Events online, using the Zoom meeting platform, we aim to make them accessible to more SCiO members. Development Events are both for members who are just starting out on a journey to explore Systems Thinking approaches, and for those who have many years of exploration and practice. This is a bring your issues of interest Development Event.Members only; FREE; Online event; English BOOK NOWThe International Society for the System Sciences (ISSS) is pleased to announce its 70th 2026 Annual Meeting, Jun 22-26, 2026, UCLAN Cyprus, Pyla, Larnaca, CyprusTheme: Elevating Systems Science to Address Humanity’s Greatest ChallengesAdvancing Real-World Applications; Converging on General Systems Science; Harnessing the Power of AIBuilding on the 2025 conference’s emphasis on internal collaboration and unity within the systems sciences community, the 2026 annual meeting sets its sights outward. It is time for systems science to engage more visibly and meaningfully with the world’s most influential institutions: the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, the OECD, the IMF, the African Union, national governments, major universities, and civil society at large.Today’s global challenges (e.g., democratic erosion, rising inequality, climate crises, pandemics, and AI disruption) demand more than fragmented expertise or short-term solutions. They call for holistic, integrated, and adaptive thinking rooted in systems science. Yet while the need has never been greater, the discipline itself faces fragmentation and marginalization. Almost all academic systems science departments have closed, and many academics and practitioners remain scattered across fields, departments, and sectors.This conference calls on systems thinkers (scientists, practitioners, educators, and decision-makers) to close this gap. We must reinvigorate our field by aligning our diverse theories and methodologies into a coherent general systems science and demonstrating its practical value on the global stage. Systems science principles and practices offer powerful tools for addressing contemporary issues, such as enhancing governance, resolving conflicts, promoting peace, and reforming education, healthcare, financial institutions, local authorities, and many other areas.Importantly, the 2026 conference will spotlight both the promise and peril of artificial intelligence. AI can amplify systemic insight, support anticipatory governance, and help coordinate solutions at scale. But without ethical and systemic oversight, it also risks deepening inequities, automating harm, and eroding human agency. We must therefore explore how systems science can serve as a compass in navigating AI’s uncertain terrain.ISSS’s Platinum Conference is a call to action to elevate systems science and cybernetics from a niche academic pursuit to a central pillar of planetary stewardship.For more information please visit: https://futureworlds.eu/wiki/70th_(2026)_Annual_Meeting_of_the_International_Society_for_the_Systems_Sciences,_CyprusOR68: From Data to Decisions: The Power of Operational Research, 8–10 September 2026, University of Nottingham, United KingdomAt OR 68, the annual conference for The Operational Research, there will once again be a systems thinking stream led by Matt Lloyd and Gemma Smith.  This stream welcomes both practitioners and academics to present insights into Systems Thinking, Problem Structuring Methods and Soft OR. The stream will focus on insights into the theory, methodology, and practice of ST, Soft OR and PSMs as well as the areas where they intersect. Contributions may be to the development of a specific approach, technique or offer observations or explore the current and evolving landscape. Insights may be derived from case studies, action research programmes, experiments, secondary data, or conceptual papers. For those seeking to publish work the stream organisers will seek to provide constructive feedback to help towards a successful review, however we are also keen for people to suggest workshops and potential fireside chats which would be if interest to our community.More information can be found here: https://www.theorsociety.com/ORS/Events/2026/OR68Main/OR68.aspx?EventKey=OR68&WebsiteKey=c1745213-aec0-45e5-a960-0ec98ebabd4e&42f76c2185c1=1#42f76c2185c1METAPHORUM CONFERENCE, A 100 Years of Stafford Beer – Celebrating his Legacy and Future Developments, September 17th to 19th, 2026, University of ManchesterWe will organise the conference in collaboration with the World Organization for Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC) and the Centre for Systems Studies (University of Hull).Who we are invitingAll are welcome, but especially:Relatives and collaborators who knew Stafford personally and will share insights into his life and character.Researchers advancing his legacy by:adapting and progressing his original thinking through contemporary systems, management, operational research and behavioural sciences, ordeveloping and implementing innovative cybersystemic methodologies and tools.Consultants and practitioners who continue to apply and evolve his theories through creative and impactful applications.We will announce shortly the journals where papers from this conference will be published.The conference features:Documentary screening: ‘100 Years of Stafford Beer’, as described above.Launching the Festschrift Book: ‘100 Years of Stafford Beer’.Participants’ contributions: We invite presentations on innovative developments and creative applications of  Beer’s theory and methods. In particular on how his legacy continues to inspire change in business and society to address the big challenges we are facing.More information can be found on the Metaphorum website : https://metaphorum.org
The Student CSS CommunityBecoming a Systemically Systematic Researcher – Current Reflections on my PhD JourneyWhen starting my PhD journey, my initial understanding of holistic and systemic thinking was based on my understanding that emergence in my research would organically guide my findings. I anticipated a process where the ‘evidence’ itself would show me the path forward. However, the uncertainty of being systemic contrasts with the academic rigour required by the doctoral process, which demands in-depth planning and justification of the ‘who’, ‘where’, ‘what’, ‘and then what’, ‘why’, and ‘how’ of my research. This contrast initially caused an internal battle for me between potential emergent outcomes and the need for structure. Moreover, I am aware that I possess inherent biases. I was concerned that by meticulously planning and defending every aspect before proceeding, I might inadvertently be engineering the outcomes of my research. I was worried that over planning would prevent organic/emergent outcomes. However, I have come to realise that a thorough framework of ideas is essential to make sense of a complex problem(s). Rather than preventing emergence, a systematic approach to boundary judgements and methodological design provides a space where valid emergence can occur.This tension was most noticeable in my application of Causal Loop Diagrams to model challenges in Marine Management. While the complexity of managing the marine environment requires navigating ambiguity and high levels of interconnectedness, the doctoral requirement for systematic documentation imposes a linear structure upon investigating these non-linear topics. Yet, I have learned to distinguish between the reporting of research (which is typically linear) and the process of enquiry (which remains cyclical/iterative). I now recognise that this documentation is beneficial as it encouraged me to critically evaluate my methodological choices. I cannot help but feel I am becoming ‘systemically systematic’. It is an interesting contrast – attempting to embed feedback within a rigid framework of study, ensuring that while I remain open to the holistic view, my path through my research remains well founded and defensible.I have come to value this aspect of my PhD journey, as it has encouraged me to consider the implications of practicing systems thinking in the wild. This thought piece was intended to share my experiences and hopefully provide some food for thought to the readership. I hope you enjoyed this short reflection. If you have any comments or thoughts, please send me an email at: Gemma.Smith-2016@hull.ac.ukGemma SmithPhD CandidateCentre for Systems Studies, University of Hull  Call for ContributionsCall for ContributionsAny news items or events for inclusion in future newsletters should be sent to Matt Lloyd (m.lloyd-2021@hull.ac.uk ) and Raj Chowdhury (Rajneesh.Chowdhury@hull.ac.uk).  Please note that the purpose of the Systems Prospects is to share news items and events with the CSS community and to all those with an interest in systems thinking.  It is not a journal or a publication that publishes papers or research.