St. Gallen, 3 August 2012, A team of the World Resources Forum attended the 30th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, hosted by the University of St. Gallen, from 22-26 July 2012. Our representatives, Veronika Rekasi, Marcela Mogilska and Fritz Beglinger, had a chance to listen to very interesting presentations and could also discuss our work related to building bridges among stakeholders. There was great interest from both sides to work together in the future.

The conference was chaired by Prof. Markus Schwaninger of the University of St. Gallen Institute of Management, and took place at the campus of the University, which features as one of the leading Management Schools of Europe.

The conference was an excellent occasion for meeting professionals interested in sustainability and the team had the chance to ask about and discuss diverse approaches to resources efficiency all over the world since the participants were very international. On the picture Veronika (left) and Marcela (right) discuss the WRF 2011 meeting report with Dr. Alexander V. Ryzhenkov, leading researcher at Institute for Economics and Industrial Engineering of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

System dynamics is a computer-aided approach to policy analysis and design.  It applies to dynamic problems arising in complex social, managerial, economic, or ecological systems — literally any dynamic systems characterized by interdependence, mutual interaction, information feedback, and circular causality.

The Society’s annual international conference is held alternately in North America and Europe, with occasional appearances in Asia and the Pacific Rim. These conferences, and the meetings of local chapters and interest groups, introduce newcomers to the field, keep practitioners aware of current developments, and provide unparalleled networking opportunities.

Presentations the team listened to include:

How can the Diffusion of Energy-Efficient Renovations be Accelerated? Policy Implications from a System Dynamics Modeling Study, by Matthias Mueller, Silvia Ulli-Beer Abstract Paper Link

A Preliminary Model of Innovation Systems, by Mauricio Uriona Maldonado, Ricardo Pietrobon, Gregorio Varvakis, Elias Cesar de Carvalho Abstract Paper

Assessing threats and opportunities of induced technology change: Long and short term cycles in the carmaker industry, by Silvia Ulli-Beer, Benjamin Boksberger, Manuel Bouza, Alexander Wokaun Abstract Paper

Modelling Ethanol Supply, Demand and Price in the Brazilian Macro Economy, by Erico Santos, Pål Davidsen Abstract Paper

Metaphorical Models for Managing the Transition from Industrial Growth to Sustainability, by John Morecroft Abstract

The 2013 Conference – “Creating the Future from Within” – will be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, from July 21-25, 2013. Deadline for paper submissions and workshop and session proposals is March 19, 2013.

For more information please visit the System Dynamics Society Website.