[If, like me, you react with some distaste to the inherent concept in the title – well at least it say ‘brain’ not ‘mind’ – and in the podcast’s name – bear with… this is actually a very neat intro to Information Theory]
Published Apr 28, 2025, 3:01 PM
Description
We’re welcoming back Christopher Lynn, Assistant Professor of Physics at Yale University, to chat about how the brain works.
In this episode, Christopher discusses how statistical mechanics and information theory can help us gain a deeper understanding of brain function and consciousness.
SysPrac25 brings together systems thinking practitioners, academics and learners from around the world and from a wide range of systems thinking disciplines. Participants will come together to share and learn practical new skills and about different approaches from one another.
We are a community of change agents, consultants, academics, some with long track records, some just starting out, but all with a thirst to learn and share.
It’s now commonplace for people in all sectors to talk about the world and their organisations becoming more complex. The recognition that systems approaches offer solutions to dealing with this complexity is increasingly understood, so the demand for systems practitioners has never been greater.
SysPrac25 is being run by SCiO, the professional body for systems practitioners, in partnership with the Open University’s Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP) group, and the International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR). It is hosted by the Open University’s STiP group – one of the longest standing and renowned academic systems group in the world.
Join us as participant, contributor or sponsor
Who will benefit from attending SysPrac25?
Systems Practitioners – from every systems thinking discipline
Learners – whether going through formal courses like the Master’s level apprenticeship in the UK, or self-paced learning, there will be a wide range of workshops where you can pick up new skills from established practitioners
Experts – an opportunity to share your experiences with others
Systems Academics – as Reg Revans famously stated, “There is no learning without action and no action without learning.” At the heart of our discipline lies the continual effort to close the theory–practice loop. This conference offers a valuable opportunity to engage directly with practitioners and collaboratively strengthen that essential connection.
Problem owners – if you have a complex problem you’re struggling with, bring it to a problem clinic for some expert input.
Organising team: SCiO, and friends Mike Jones, Patrick Hoverstadt, Jo Caughlin, Gavin Roberts, Lesley Rowan, Steve Hales, Simon McCormac, Martin Reynolds and Russ Lewis.
Chile’s privately managed individual pension fund system, with its low replacement rates and pension incomes far below the minimum wage, has long been the subject of serious criticism. A new model is required that considers not only financial, economic and demographic variables but realistic assumptions about the behaviour of actors in a design that guarantees minimally acceptable incomes. With that in mind, the literature pertaining to the Chilean pension system found on the Web of Science (WoS) platform’s Master Journal List is surveyed to identify the system’s bases, assumptions and critiques. An approach is then proposed based on the mathematical theory of viability as an extension of system dynamics techniques. We argue that the combination of these techniques and viability theory are not only useful for solving the problem of the pension system’s viability but in fact the only method of solving it. Based on concepts of chance and necessity of viable systems, the approach is a multi-system one that provides a wider range of solutions over multiple dimensions compared to the current system, in particular replacing the latter’s narrow view of workers as \emph{homo oeconomicus} with a much broader concept we denote \emph{home ecologicus}. Although there is currently no algorithmic method for solving the model’s set of variables, we believe the proposed model has great potential as a basis for the design of a truly viable pension system.
Battle-Fisher, M. (2024). Disrupting Public Health Disparities toward Equity: a conceptual investigation using systems thinking and systems science. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://lnkd.in/ewD7uhMp
Ypsomed practitioners webinar postponed to 14. May 2025 (speaker is ill, we wish the best)Save the date: webinar about the collaboration canvas 7. May 2025 with Mark LambertzAnnouncing the VSM Coach badge
Transformation with the Viable System Model at Ypsomed
14. May 2025, 17:00h London time, Zoomplease note: this webinar was originally scheduled for the 16. April 2025
Learn first-hand how Ypsomed leveraged the Viable System Model (VSM) as a reference framework for a profound organizational transformation.In this webinar, Michael Zaugg, Head of Corporate Services at Ypsomed, and Christoph Mahr, consultant and advisor for the VSM implementation, share their experiences with this successful transformation. They will explain why the executive team chose VSM, how the implementation was carried out, and what challenges had to be overcome.Key topics of the webinar:· Why VSM was chosen as the model for organizational development· How the implementation was structured in practice· Challenges, success factors and key learnings· Practical recommendations for leaders driving transformation processesGain valuable insights from experts and get inspired to shape the future of your organization in a sustainable way!Ypsomed: Company OverviewYpsomed is a leading Swiss medical technology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of injection and infusion systems for self-medication. Under the mylife Diabetescare brand, the company also offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for people with diabetes.Founded in 1984 by brothers Willy and Peter Michel under the name Disetronic, Ypsomed has over 40 years of industry experience. Today, the company is headquartered in Burgdorf, Switzerland, and employs around 2,600 people worldwide.Ypsomed is recognized for its innovative strength and was recently named Switzerland’s most innovative company in a survey conducted by BILANZ and Statista. Michael Zaugg has been with Ypsomed since 2017 and is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ypsomed Group Pension Fund Foundation since 2020. From 2011 to 2017 he was employed as Head of Talent Europe at ABB. Previously he worked in HR at Credit Suisse, was Consultant and Executive Board member at schärpartners ag (2004 to 2007), Head of HR Services at Valiant Holding (2007 to 2008) and Head of HR Recruiting at BKW FMB AG (2008 to 2011).Michael Zaugg studied economics at the University of Basel (degree: lic.rer. pol) specialising in human resources management, marketing and environmental economics. He also holds a degree from the university’s crossfaculty accompanying study programme Man – Society – Environment (MSE) and an Executive Master of Human Resources Management from the Institute of Applied Psychology in Zurich.For more than 20 years, Christoph Mahr has been supporting organizations and coaching people who work in them to continuously develop. Creating agile organizations that are able to shape and develop their future proactively and allow people to excel is his mission.As an organizational consultant and dedicated coach, he supports his clients in an authentic manner and with humor. He helps individuals and organizations build and develop profound change, agile, and lean capabilities by unlocking and enlarging existing knowledge. Innovative, pragmatic, and highly efficient learning concepts are part of his repertoire. Since 2018, Christoph Mahr has been the Managing Director of step5 AG in Zurich, where he continues to drive organizational transformation and leadership development.Christoph Mahr studied pedagogy, sociology, and psychology at the universities of Würzburg and Freiburg (Breisgau). He has completed multiple advanced training programs in systemic organizational development and hypnosystemic coaching, further expanding his expertise in facilitating organizational transformation processes.In addition to his professional work, he volunteers as an emergency psychologist.
Unlocking Collaboration: Mastering the VSM Collaboration Canvas
In this webinar Mark Lambertz will introduce the VSM Collaboration Canvas, a tool rooted in the Viable System Model (VSM) for enhancing collaboration across organizational boundaries. Whether you’re looking to bridge gaps between teams, align strategies, or address operational inefficiencies, this session will equip you with practical insights and actionable techniques.more
Announcing the VSM Coach BadgeGood news for VSM Coaches: we can finally publish our VSM Coach badge. As a Certified VSM Coach, you can use it to announce your certification.Download
Metaphorum 2025: Humans at risk?Applying the Viable System Model and Team Syntegrity for steering Towards Agency and Resilience in the Age of Alien Intelligence and Instability.
at Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK, with limited participation online, July 3rd – 5th 2025 more
Metaphorum Newsletter From the Home of Organizational Cybernetics Ypsomed practitioners webinar postponed to 14. May 2025 (speaker is ill, we wish the best) Save the date: webinar about the collaboration canvas 7. May 2025 with Mark Lambertz Announcing the VSM Coach badge Transformation with the Viable System Model at Ypsomed
14. May 2025, 17:00h London time, Zoom
please note: this webinar was originally scheduled for the 16. April 2025
Learn first-hand how Ypsomed leveraged the Viable System Model (VSM) as a reference framework for a profound organizational transformation.
In this webinar, Michael Zaugg, Head of Corporate Services at Ypsomed, and Christoph Mahr, consultant and advisor for the VSM implementation, share their experiences with this successful transformation. They will explain why the executive team chose VSM, how the implementation was carried out, and what challenges had to be overcome.
Key topics of the webinar:
· Why VSM was chosen as the model for organizational development
· How the implementation was structured in practice
· Challenges, success factors and key learnings
· Practical recommendations for leaders driving transformation processes
Gain valuable insights from experts and get inspired to shape the future of your organization in a sustainable way!
Ypsomed: Company Overview
Ypsomed is a leading Swiss medical technology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of injection and infusion systems for self-medication. Under the mylife Diabetescare brand, the company also offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for people with diabetes.
Founded in 1984 by brothers Willy and Peter Michel under the name Disetronic, Ypsomed has over 40 years of industry experience. Today, the company is headquartered in Burgdorf, Switzerland, and employs around 2,600 people worldwide.
Ypsomed is recognized for its innovative strength and was recently named Switzerland’s most innovative company in a survey conducted by BILANZ and Statista.
Michael Zaugg has been with Ypsomed since 2017 and is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ypsomed Group Pension Fund Foundation since 2020. From 2011 to 2017 he was employed as Head of Talent Europe at ABB. Previously he worked in HR at Credit Suisse, was Consultant and Executive Board member at schärpartners ag (2004 to 2007), Head of HR Services at Valiant Holding (2007 to 2008) and Head of HR Recruiting at BKW FMB AG (2008 to 2011).
Michael Zaugg studied economics at the University of Basel (degree: lic.rer. pol) specialising in human resources management, marketing and environmental economics. He also holds a degree from the university’s crossfaculty accompanying study programme Man – Society – Environment (MSE) and an Executive Master of Human Resources Management from the Institute of Applied Psychology in Zurich.
For more than 20 years, Christoph Mahr has been supporting organizations and coaching people who work in them to continuously develop. Creating agile organizations that are able to shape and develop their future proactively and allow people to excel is his mission.
As an organizational consultant and dedicated coach, he supports his clients in an authentic manner and with humor. He helps individuals and organizations build and develop profound change, agile, and lean capabilities by unlocking and enlarging existing knowledge. Innovative, pragmatic, and highly efficient learning concepts are part of his repertoire. Since 2018, Christoph Mahr has been the Managing Director of step5 AG in Zurich, where he continues to drive organizational transformation and leadership development.
Christoph Mahr studied pedagogy, sociology, and psychology at the universities of Würzburg and Freiburg (Breisgau). He has completed multiple advanced training programs in systemic organizational development and hypnosystemic coaching, further expanding his expertise in facilitating organizational transformation processes.
In addition to his professional work, he volunteers as an emergency psychologist.
Unlocking Collaboration: Mastering the VSM Collaboration Canvas
In this webinar Mark Lambertz will introduce the VSM Collaboration Canvas, a tool rooted in the Viable System Model (VSM) for enhancing collaboration across organizational boundaries. Whether you’re looking to bridge gaps between teams, align strategies, or address operational inefficiencies, this session will equip you with practical insights and actionable techniques.
more
Registration Link 07.05.2025
Announcing the VSM Coach Badge Good news for VSM Coaches: we can finally publish our VSM Coach badge. As a Certified VSM Coach, you can use it to announce your certification. Download Download Badge
Metaphorum 2025: Humans at risk? Applying the Viable System Model and Team Syntegrity for steering Towards Agency and Resilience in the Age of Alien Intelligence and Instability.
at Manchester Business School, Manchester, UK, with limited participation online, July 3rd – 5th 2025 more
The website hosts a collection of projects organised under the umbrella of a broader interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research programme dedicated to building theoretical, methodological and pragmatic foundations and to promoting the practice of Complex Thinking
Metaphorum 2025: Humans at risk?Applying the Viable System Model and Team Syntegrity for steering Towards Agency and Resilience in the Age of Alien Intelligence and Instability.
Systems Community of Inquiry 
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