Participatory, real-time science, or holistic science is the heart of the emerging new paradigm of sustainability science and anticipatory science. We can see it exemplified in science conducted during a crisis, which is quite different from disciplinary science in which we are used to knowing the questions and priorities for research. During crises even the questions must be discovered, disciplines must be combined or transcended, and people and institutions must collaborate. We will look at some characteristics of this exploratory edge of science that seems so important for the study of systems. We will also examine social and psychological factors that tend to resist exploratory science, making it difficult to study anomalous phenomena, crises or impending crises, and complex systems; and thus requiring a special set of personal skills. Today the challenge of complex systems places the greatest needs in science at that edge. This will be an evening of penetrating discussion on two topics (a) the need for an exploratory phase of science, (b) requisite human capacity for systems thinking and (c) peer and institutional resistance to threshold ideas and new paradigms. Chair:
Dominique Surel and
Pamela Henning Speakers:
- Gary Machlis - The distinctive Characteristics of Science During Crisis
- Dominique Surel – Human Capacity for Systems Thinking
- Pamela Buckle-Henning – Psychology of empowering and Supporting Student Research
- Facilitated discussion
