Integration and Implementation Sciences Network

Last week I attended a meeting of the Integration and Implementation Sciences Network. This is a group based at the ANU in Canberra which aims to create a new discipline for understanding of complex issues between different domains (sort of a discipline of interdisciplinary working). Of course ICT people are trained in integration and interdisciplinary work as the computer systems they build often have to act as a conduit between different groups. This could then connect research to public policy, business and professional practice. You can join the I2S Network for free:

Integration and Implementation Sciences (I2S or IIS) is an emerging discipline concerned with:

1. the synthesis of a range of knowledge, information and perspectives to improve understanding of complex issues;
2. using research knowledge to support decision makers in various domains, including public policy, business, professional practice and community activism; and,
3. using research knowledge to underpin the implementation of decisions in effective social change.

It aims to provide an academic base for largely ignored cross-cutting concepts and methods crucial for tackling complex issues. More detailed information is available in the overview of I2S.

The network aims to bring together a ‘college’ of peers who can support and critically evaluate each other’s work. There are a number of undertakings currently supported by this website and you can:

• join the I2S Network;
• find network members, by surname, country, integration approach or area of work;
• find resources relevant to Integration and Implementation Sciences, covering associations, journals, readings and online articles; and,
• join I2S Network activities.

The network also has an interesting list of interdisciplinary events:

Analysing Colaborative and Deliberative Forms of Governance	One Day Workshop run by the Deliberative Democracy Group and the Crawford School of Economics and Government November 14th, 2008, The Australian National University, Canberra Flyer (PDF 59 KB) http://deliberativedemocracy.anu.edu.au/ACDFG.php
Transdisciplinarity Conference 2008	Inter- and Transdisciplinary Problem Framing November 27th-28th, 2008, Zurich, Switzerland http://www.transdisciplinarity.ch/newsmail/detail.php?id=1098
14th International Australian and New Zealand Systems Conference	Systems Thinking and Systems Practice December 1st-3rd, 2008, Perth, Australia http://scissec.scis.ecu.edu.au/anzsys08/