Program Details and More
To register use Registration Form or Online Submission System.
Program The theme of the conference is “Model-based Management.” This choice highlights the role that formal models can play in the effective management of dynamic systems and how skills in modeling and simulation can contribute to organizational design, organizational learning, and policy-making. The use of models as part of formal theory-building is a central part of Jay W. Forrester’s vision of how system dynamics can contribute to management thinking, social science research and rigorous policy analysis. The different threads in the conference will provide for the diverse range of application domains in which system dynamics ideas are applied, as well as providing space for methodological developments and comparisons. The theme of the conference reflects the breadth of interest in system dynamics-based modeling and encourages participation from researchers, educators and practitioners.
The conference program will consist of invited and contributed sessions and workshops demonstrating the state of the art in the theory and application of system dynamics. Submissions are encouraged on the conference main theme and all topics relating to the theory and practical application of system dynamics modeling.
Plenary sessions will include a selection from the best papers submitted to the conference program. There will be special plenary sessions on “Learning from Models,” which will examine the use of system dynamics simulations to improve understanding of a wide range of policy issues, and “Next Steps for System Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities,” which will feature a Socratic Dialogue, followed by perspectives from across the field and an opportunity for all attendees to contribute their views. The conference schedule will provide time for relaxed social and professional interaction and for participants to enjoy the many historical and cultural attractions of the delightful city of St. Gallen.
The conference will comprise a full program of plenary, parallel, poster, workshop and tutorial sessions alongside panel discussions, chapter and special interest group meetings, roundtables, student colloquia, the modeling assistance workshop, vendor displays, exhibits and demonstrations, award presentations, the Society business meeting and the Presidential Address. The general Workshop Day is scheduled for Thursday, July 26.
Presentations will be grouped into sessions organized by topic threads.
All posters will be presented on Monday, July 23 at the Poster Symposium and Light Buffet. Attendees will have ample time to mingle and converse with the authors, together with a standing light buffet dinner. Attendees may vote for their favorite posters; the winners of this (admittedly unscientific) poll will be announced the following morning. Guests who purchase a Social Program ticket are welcome to attend.
The conference program will include hands-on workshops and tutorial sessions facilitated by leading scholars in the field. Instructional workshops will run in parallel on Thursday, July 26. Separately, the Modeling Assistance Workshop will be held for the 12th consecutive year, pairing those with modeling questions with experienced modelers for one-on-one coaching during two spectator-friendly cluster sessions and also privately throughout the conference.
Other events will include Roundtables (Education; Energy; Economic Dynamics; Conflict, Defense and Security; Model Analysis; Information Science and Information Systems; Psychology), the HPSIG Health Policy Discussion, the Peer Review dialog, and the Chapter and Special Interest Group Poster Session. The SD Career Link Bulletin Board will be coupled with the Red Ribbon Event that will link job seekers with employment opportunities. Exhibitor demonstrations and software users’ group meetings will showcase products and services in practice.
The 13th annual PhD Student Colloquium is scheduled for Sunday, July 22. This is an opportunity for PhD students to present and share their research through plenary and poster sessions. For information contact Chris Browne and Nicolás Escalante at phdcolloquium@systemdynamics.org or visit www.systemdynamics.org/student.
The Newcomer Orientation Session is a special event for newcomers, scheduled for a half hour in the afternoon on Sunday, July 22. Newcomers and guides (veteran attendees) will be brought together based on their topics of interest. The guides will answer questions and provide information to help newcomers get the most out of the conference. If you are a newcomer and would like to participate in this program, please check the box on the registration form for first-time participant. To volunteer as a guide, please contact Len Malczynski lamalcz@sandia.gov.
Call for Nominations Nominations are invited for the Jay W. Forrester Award and the Dana Meadows Award. Nominations are also invited for the Lupina Young Researchers Award, the Barry Richmond Scholarship Award, and for two Environmental SIG Scholarships. Please refer to the Society website and the conference submission system for complete details on all awards.
Scholarships A limited number of partial scholarships will be available. To apply, please use the conference paper submission system to provide a short paragraph describing why support is needed and what special contribution you will make to the conference or take back from the conference to your home community. The deadline for applying is May 9.
Social Program tentatively includes an informal gathering during Sunday registration and a reception and official welcome by the mayor of St. Gallen on Sunday, July 22 at 6:30 PM at the University Main Building. The Poster Symposium and Light Buffet will be held on Monday evening and the Conference Banquet Dinner at the Einstein Congress on Tuesday, July 24.
Guided tours to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and the Abbey District of St. Gallen will be available. This tour is not included in the conference registration fee, and therefore is paid separately. For more information please visit the Venue: Social Program. For Switzerland travel information, please visit Swiss Tourism’s website: http://www.myswitzerland.ch.
The Spouses’ Lounge will offer a place for spouses, significant others, travel companions, and family members to meet, gather and make plans to do fun things in St. Gallen. This will be a great opportunity for them to make new friends and renew acquaintances; we welcome them to the conference!
Find detailed information on variety of lodging options, visa information, travel to and within Switzerland as well as to make hotel reservations at Accommodations and Travel Information.
Tentative Conference Schedule The conference program is subject to change. Details and other information on the conference and schedule will be continually updated.