The collection of ITD-related Professional Associations and Networks below is based on a compilation developed by Integration and Implementation Sciences (i2S) between 2002 and 2021. The ITD-Alliance took over the compilation in 2022 and is now expanding and updating it. More detailed information is available if you click on the name of the Association or Network. The search function will scan all available fields, including the description. Therefore, if you are looking for Associations or Networks in specific areas, you can search for relevant keywords to find them.
| Name | Link | Description | Journal | Conference | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) | Association Website | The Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (formerly the Association for Integrative Studies) is “an interdisciplinary professional organization founded in 1979 to promote the interchange of ideas among scholars and administrators in all of the arts and sciences on intellectual and organizational issues related to furthering integrative studies”. US based, it has an international membership. Some of the main aims of the association are as follows: “Promotes the interchange of ideas among a diverse community of scholars, teachers, administrators, and the public regarding interdisciplinarity and integration”; Advocates best practice in teaching and research; “Advances the exploration of key terms and seeks out new theoretical models that further the understanding of interdisciplinarity and integration”; “Sustains the development of real-world applications of interdisciplinarity and integration”; “Supports the development of strategies for strengthening the role of interdisciplinarity and integration within (and beyond) the Academy.” The association hosts a listserv, a newsletter and a Facebook page and provides various resources on its website. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in the USA (although the conference was held in Europe for the first time in 2019), usually in October | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods, ITD Alliance Member |
| FINTERDIS – The Finnish Interdisciplinary Society | Association Website | FINTERDIS – The Finnish Interdisciplinary Society is an academic organization founded on October 4, 2018, which supports inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching in Finland as well as internationally. FINTERDIS aims to support especially students and early-career researchers (below Title of Docent level) in their efforts to integrate approaches and ideas across fields, while collaborating with more advanced scholars with inter- and transdisciplinary interests. The goal of FINTERDIS is that early-career researchers and students would have better and more equal opportunities for independent creative thought and a right to cross boundaries even on radical basis. FINTERDIS is a registered, autonomous society, whose sphere of activities encompasses the whole country of Finland. They make effort to collaborate with as many Finnish higher education institutions as possible. FINTERDIS also introduces different practices related to inter- and transdisciplinarity from different countries to the Finnish context and vice versa and promotes the internationalization of Finnish scholars. Their main international collaborators include the U.S.-based Association for Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS), the Early-Career Scholars Working Group of the new global Inter- and Transdisciplinary (ITD) Alliance, and the Latin American NODO ESIT – Nodo de Estudios sobre Interdisciplina y Transdisciplina. They are also open to and constantly seeking opportunities for new collaborations! FINTERDIS is open to all students, researchers and teachers affiliated with Finnish universities regardless of career stage or specialization. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and early career researchers, ITD Alliance Member | ||
| Future Earth | Association Website | Future Earth is a network of scientists, researchers, and innovators designed to provide the knowledge needed to support transformations towards sustainability. Their focus on systems-based approaches seeks to deepen our understanding of complex Earth systems and human dynamics across different disciplines. They use this understanding to underpin evidence-based policies and strategies for sustainable development. The vision of Future Earth is of a sustainable and equitable world for all, where societal decisions are informed by openly-accessible and shared knowledge. Future Earth’s mission is to advance research in support of transformations to global sustainability. Future Earth convenes researchers and scholars from all parts of the world, across different societal and academic sectors, and across the natural, social, and human sciences. Future Earth initiates and supports international collaboration between these researchers and stakeholders to identify and generate the integrated knowledge needed for successful transformations towards societies that provide good and fair lives for all within a stable and resilient Earth system. Future Earth uses a rigorous transdisciplinary research and systems thinking approach throughout its work in which basic and applied research are combined to generate actionable, solution-oriented knowledge to inform and guide decisions by policy makers and practitioners at all levels of governance. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual Conference namely the SRI Congress in different parts of the world | Sustainability science, ITD Alliance Member |
| International Network for the Science of Team Science (INSciTS) | Association Website | The International Network for the Science of Team Science (INSciTS) is the “professional organization for team science and the Science of Team Science (SciTS) field.” The field “is concerned with understanding and managing circumstances that facilitate or hinder the effectiveness of large-scale collaborative research, training, and translational initiatives”, including “understanding how teams connect and collaborate to achieve scientific breakthroughs that would not be attainable by either individual or simply additive efforts.” INSciTS supports “individuals leading, engaging in, managing, facilitating, supporting, evaluating, and producing scholarship on team science” and operates as “a forum to share the latest evidence for what works in team science” as well as providing collaboration opportunities towards advancing the SciTS field. INSciTS hosts a set of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), which are “member-led groups that provide a ‘home within a home’ for INSciTS members to connect and collaborate with colleagues who have shared interests in the SciTS field”. The network Intereach (Interdisciplinary Integration Research Careers Hub) became one of the SIGs in 2019. The network was launched in 2018, and grew out of the Science of Team Science Network (SciTS). It hosts an active listserv, a team science toolkit and a Mendeley Science of Team Science (SciTS) library. | Hosts an annual conference in the US, usually mid-year | Team science and project management, ITD Alliance Member | |
| td-net: Network for Transdisciplinary Research | Association Website | td-net: Network for Transdisciplinary Research provides a monthly newsmail service with information on transdisciplinary-focused events, courses, publications, job openings and thematic discussions. td-net ran three highly successful international conferences in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and also runs Swiss conferences. The network provides an annual “tour d’horizon” of literature related to transdisciplinarity and in 2014 provided a recommended reading list of introductory texts. The network started in 2000 and is a project of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. | Hosts a biennial conference in Switzerland | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods, ITD Alliance Member | |
| Academy of Transdisciplinary Learning and Advanced Studies (The ATLAS) | Association Website | The Academy of Transdisciplinary Learning and Advanced Studies (The ATLAS) seeks “to develop new transdisciplinary research frameworks and strategies with a strong focus on joint efforts by researchers from diverse disciplines to contribute to the co-design of a global sustainable future.” In order to support this goal, The ATLAS aims: “To take leadership in developing the fundamentals of the transdiscipline; To provide leadership in the development of new models of learning and innovative teaching environments to complement transdisciplinary curricula; To foster global perspectives on education, research and training activities; To provide a forum for improving the links between science, technology, and the arts by fostering research and educational collaborations among the nations; Enlighten the world with hope for green engineering and science; To inspire global peace and; To promote global information exchange through innovative publishing.” It is not a membership organisation. It is a “non-profit organization providing services to students around the world.” A variety of educational resources are provided by The ATLAS including a journal, books and learning modules. They also support an educational research institute: the ATLAS-R&B TD Research Institute. The ATLAS was founded in 2000. | Journal's Website | Hosted a biennial conference in a global location, usually in mid-year unitl 2020. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, sustainability science |
| Action Learning, Action Research Association (ALARA) | Association Website | ALARA is a network of people “interested in using action research and action learning to generate collaborative learning, research and action to transform workplaces, schools, colleges, universities, communities, voluntary organisations, governments and businesses. ALARA’s vision is that action research and action learning will be widely used and publicly shared by individuals and groups creating local and global change for the achievement of a more equitable, just, joyful, productive, peaceful and sustainable society… ALARA provides a community of peers;… opportunities to reflect on and innovate practice face-to-face and virtually; access to information, training and learning about action research and action learning; access to local, national and global events hosted by ALARA and [other] aligned organisations; [and] access to networks, news, and a variety of publication opportunities…”. It was established in 1991. The association hosts a monograph series, e-news (for members) and a Facebook page and provides various resources on its website. | Journal's Website | Hosts a biennial conference in Australasia, usually in November, as well as an occasional World Congress (in association with Participative Action Research) | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods |
| Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA) | Association Website | “The Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA) unites college and university students and faculty conducting practitioner inquiry into teaching and learning with fellow action researchers in public schools, private schools, community settings and workplaces throughout the Americas. ARNA members are committed to taking action locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to promote action research that is conducted with a commitment to honesty, integrity, inclusiveness, multi-vocality, engagement, and achievement within sustainable democratic societies.” ARNA holds regular conferences and provides a set of online resources and networking opportunities via their website. Their website also functions as a wiki, so members can more easily join in with knowledge dissemination. ARNA has a Twitter and Facebook presence, as well as a YouTube channel. It was founded in 2012. | Hosts a conference every year, usually in May or June in North or South America | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods | |
| American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) | Association Website | The American Society for Cybernetics (ASC) is focused on “the advancement of cybernetics as a science, a discipline, a meta-discipline, and a practice by: Systematically accreting, evaluating and disseminating knowledge about cybernetics and its applications, unconstrained by disciplinary and other boundaries. Developing and refining cybernetics’ concepts, ethics, models, research methods and other techniques of inquiry. Applying these means to improve systems in the manner cybernetics advocates (e.g., better reflexivity, balance, autonomy, manageability and design). Informing the public, educating students, sustaining practitioners, and accrediting cybernetics curricula and graduates.” The ASC holds regular conferences and provides a set of online resources and networking opportunities via their website. The society also has a YouTube channel. It was founded in 1964. | Hosts an annual conference (see events) in Europe, USA or Canada, usually around the middle of the year | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| Association Française de Science des Systèmes (AFSCET) (French Association for Systems and Cybernetic Studies) | Association Website | The Association Française de Science des Systèmes (AFSCET) focuses on supporting a transdisciplinary approach using systems thinking and cybernetics to the complex problems of today. AFSCET organizes seminars and workshops devoted to deepening systemic theories and practices. A number of working groups are active, including the AFSCET Café; Modeling of Complex Systems; System Dynamics; and, Control Equipment and Systems Interaction with Risks. AFSCET hosts an online review called Res-Systemica and publishes a variety of materials in support of its goals. It was founded in 1999. | Transdisciplinarity, systems, modelling and simulation | ||
| Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO) | Association Website | The Association of European Operational Research Societies (EURO) is “a regional grouping within IFORS” (International Federation of Operational Research Societies). Its aim is “to promote Operational Research throughout Europe” and to this end the association supports meetings and conferences, books and journals, and people through awards and general networking (such as through an e-newsletter). “The members of EURO are normally full members of IFORS and comprise the national OR [Operational Research] societies of countries, most of whom are located within or nearby (in a broad sense) Europe”. It was founded in 1975. | Journal's Website | Hosts a conference series known as EURO-k, in Europe, usually in July | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| Citizen Science Association (CSA) | Association Website | “The Citizen Science Association (CSA) is a member-driven organization that connects people from a wide range of experiences around one shared purpose: advancing knowledge through research and monitoring done by, for, and with members of the public. Citizen science – the most recognizable term for this practice – is expanding the reach, relevance, and impact of science in almost every area of inquiry; in the field and online; through local and global efforts. By broadening who can contribute to, shape, and use the tools and skills of science, these efforts can address questions with increased data and insight, develop shared social and scientific understanding of complex problems, and open new opportunities for shared discovery, scholarship, learning, justice, and action.” “Citizen science is multidisciplinary and multidimensional by nature, relying on new technologies, learning research, data management techniques, insights into equity and community engagement, and much more. People in this field work with rigor, ingenuity, and perseverance, but are often isolated from each others’ innovations.” The CSA connects “people across this dispersed but vibrant community of practice to foster synergies, to bring attention to the practices that strengthen these efforts, and to accelerate the pace of improvement.” The CSA partners “with sister organizations on other continents to engage a global conversation” and builds “strategic alliances with other societies (of disciplines and practices)”, but focuses “convening and communication efforts towards a North American audience.” The primary goals of CSA are to: Elevate attention to integrity and excellence in citizen science. Create spaces that connect people across a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary field. Facilitate and support efforts to confront challenges that span boundaries. Build a vibrant association with an open, transparent, and engaged culture. Membership of CSA is available to individuals and organisations. “Members and non-members alike are welcome to join a discussion listserv for sharing questions, ideas, innovations, and announcements among peers in this field.” Members are kept connected through an online platform and online services such as a webinar series, and in-person conferences, workshops, and short courses. CSA runs a blog, a biannual conference and has a journal; Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. CSA was founded in 2012. | Journal's Website | Hosts a biannual conference in the USA and usually earlier in the year | Citizen Science |
| Cognitive Edge Network | Association Website | Cognitive Edge is a company “founded in 2005 with the objective of building methods, tools and capability to utilise insights from Complex Adaptive Systems theory and other scientific disciplines in social systems.” It focuses on “developing approaches that allow organisations to absorb uncertainty, create resilience and detect weak signals which more conventional approaches would ignore.” It is particularly associated with the Cynefin framework (which characterises problems and situations as simple, complicated, complex, chaotic or disordered) and narrative techniques, especially its SenseMaker (registered trademark) software. There are two levels of network membership – free and paid – and a range of website library and other resources can be accessed with free membership, including a useful glossary, articles about concepts and methods, and case studies. | Uncertainty, risk and decision making | ||
| Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) | Association Website | Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) “aims to encourage and support action research projects (personal, local, national and international), accessible accounts of action research projects, and contributions to the theory and methodology of action research.” The network has a focus on increasing the visibility of action research, supporting action researchers broadly and in fostering connections between action research practitioners, notably through regional networks. The members of CARN come from a wide range of backgrounds, such as “educational, health, social care, commercial, and public services settings”. There is a yearly CARN conference and a yearly bulletin is published. “CARN was founded in 1976 in order to continue the development work of the Ford Teaching Project in UK primary and secondary schools”. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in Europe, usually towards the end of the year. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods |
| Complex Systems Society | Association Website | The Complex Systems Society “aims to promote complex systems research pure and applied…, assist and advise on problems of complex systems education, concern itself with the broader relations of complex systems to society, foster the interaction between complex systems scientists of different countries, establish a sense of identity amongst complexity scientists, and represent the complexity community at all international levels.” It focuses on Europe, “as well as the whole international scientific community.” The society was founded in 2004. | Hosts an annual Conference on Complex Systems in different parts of the world (in Europe in alternate years) | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| Cybernetics Society | Association Website | The Cybernetics Society “is the UK national learned society and professional body promoting pure and applied cybernetics. It holds scientific meetings, conferences and social events, and engages in other activities to encourage public understanding of science and to extend and disseminate knowledge of cybernetics and its associated disciplines”. The Cybernetics Society “is a member society of the International Federation of Systems Research (IFSR) and is affiliated to the World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC)”. The website of the society provides a collection of resources useful for orientating to cybernetics and systems thinking. The society was launched in 1968. | Journal's Website | Periodically held in the United Kingdom. | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) | Association Website | The Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) is a “worldwide network to enhance the science, policy and practice of ecosystem services for conservation and sustainable development.” Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by the natural environment to people. The ESP “aims to enhance communication, coordination and cooperation, and to build a strong network of individuals and organizations.” It “enhances and encourages a diversity of approaches, while reducing unnecessary duplication of efforts in the conceptualization and application of ecosystem services”, that will in turn “increase opportunities for financial support and help to focus the funding of individual organizations for more efficient utilization of existing funds.” The ESP is open to institutional and individual members and it “connects over 3000 ecosystem services scientists, policy makers and practitioners who work together in more than 40 working groups and … national networks on all continents. ESP regularly organises world and regional conferences and provides many services to further enhance the application of ecosystem services for nature conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable management.” The ESP publishes a freely available newsletter and the journal Ecosystem Services is officially associated with ESP. The ESP was founded in 2012. | Journal's Website | Hosts a biannual conference in global locations, usually later in the year | Sustainability science |
| European Association for Decision Making (EADM) | Association Website | “The European Association for Decision Making (EADM) is an interdisciplinary organisation dedicated to the study of normative, descriptive, and prescriptive theories of decision making. The purpose of the association is the advancement and diffusion of knowledge about human judgement and decision making and providing support for the exchange of information relating to this subject between the members and other associations throughout the world, as well as between members and other interested institutions and/or individuals. EADM supports: a biennial Summer-school on judgment and decision-making, an electronic mailing list for EADM members, the open access scientific journal Judgment and Decision Making”. EADM also sponsor various awards for those working in the field of decision making. The Association was founded in August 1993. | Journal's Website | Hosts a biennial conference on SPUDM (Subjective Probability, Utility, and Decision Making) in Europe, usually around the middle of the year | Uncertainty, risk and decision making |
| European Implementation Collaborative (EIC) | Association Website | The European Implementation Collaborative (EIC) draws together a “broad range of individual and organisational stakeholders in the field of implementation [and seeks to] build links and exchange learning about implementation science and practice within Europe”. More specifically, the EIC “aims to improve the life of children, youth, adults, and families in Europe through effective evidence-informed implementation of evidence-informed human services”. Objectives of the EIC are to: “Promote greater awareness and understanding of implementation science and practice within and across European welfare and human service systems. Create an infrastructure for cross-European exchange of the ‘know what’, ‘know why’, and ‘know how’ of implementation practice and science. Identify and develop a common Europe-specific knowledge base and language on implementation in order to define the specific contextual factors of the European human service delivery systems that encompass implementation work in European countries. Link the individuals and groups working in this area in Europe back to the growing global community of implementation science and practice and contribute a European perspective to the wider development of the field.” The EIC provides a set of resources on implementation, facilitates connections between members and implementation organisations generally, and publishes a newsletter. It was established in 2015. | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| Global Implementation Society (GIS) | Association Website | The Global Implementation Society (GIS) “advances implementation practice and science by supporting members and by directly undertaking projects to develop implementation as a profession based on knowledge and standards for practice.” The society supports a “community of professionals who are developing and using new and better ways of providing human services (implementation practice) and who are generating knowledge about how best to do this (implementation research, implementation policy).” The Global Implementation Society was founded in 2018. | GIS is part of the Global Implementation Initiative which hosts a bi-annual conference, at global locations, usually mid-to-late in the year. | Research implementation and transformation | |
| Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS) | Association Website | The Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies (HSSS) is a scientific non-profit society, with the following goals: “the growth and dissemination of methodologies and applications of systemic analysis in science, technology and administration. the recognition of systemic analysis in the public sector, private enterprises and organizations of the public and private sector. the consolidation of the prestige of a systemic analyst. the promotion of research and teaching on systemic analysis in [academic] education and professional training. the exchange and distribution of information relative to systemic analysis in Greece and internationally. the provision of possibilities to its members for professional and scientific advancement”. The HSSS was established in 2003 and is a member of the International Society for the Systems Sciences and International Federation of Systems Research. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in Greece, usually during the middle of the year. | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC) | Association Website | The Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Advanced Collaboratory (HASTAC) is “an alliance of more than 13,000 humanists, artists, social scientists, scientists and technologists working together to transform the future of learning. Since 2002, HASTAC (“haystack”) has served as a community of connection where members share news, tools, research, insights, and projects to promote engaged learning for a global society. Issues of access and equality are as important to HASTAC’s mission as the latest technological innovations; creative contribution is as important as critical thinking. Keywords representing this perspective include: learning and teaching, education design, digital humanities, media, communication, social engagement, and the collaborative workplace. We are dedicated to sharing information, ideas, and practices about the future of learning.” | Hosts an annual conference in different parts of the world, usually in April | Education | |
| Integration and Implementation Sciences (i2S) | Association Website | i2S is a new discipline providing concepts and methods for conducting research on complex, real-world problems. It supports researchers (i2S specialists) who contribute to cross-disciplinary teams tackling challenging societal and environmental problems, by enhancing: 1. Synthesis of disciplinary and stakeholder knowledge, 2. Understanding and management of diverse unknowns, and 3. Provision of integrated research support for policy and practice change. i2S is an intellectual hub which provides: a. a home for compiling and further developing relevant concepts and methods, as well as case examples which illustrate their use, b. a conduit for transmitting these between teams working on different problems, c. a forum for evaluating quality and raising standards, and d. education at a range of levels. i2S compiled an overview of many resources. The informations on Journals, Conferences and Professional Associations and Networks on this website are based on this work. | Collaborative Research | ||
| Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC) Society | Association Website | The IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) Society aims to promote “the theory, practice, and interdisciplinary aspects of systems science and engineering, human-machine systems, and cybernetics.” In particular, there is a focus on: “Development of systems engineering technology including problem definition methods, modeling, and simulation, methods of system experimentation, human factors engineering, data and methods, systems design techniques and test and evaluation methods. Integration of the theories of communication, control, cybernetics, stochastics, optimization, and system structure towards the formulation of a general theory of systems. Application at hardware and software levels to the analysis and design of biological, ecological, socio-economic, social service, computer information, and operational man-machine systems.” IEEE SMC is a membership based society, with an extensive network of chapters in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It runs an annual conference, produces several magazines, a newsletter and a set of journals. IEEE SMC was constituted in 1972, but there is a longer history stretching back to 1958 (starting with the Institute of Radio Engineers Professional Group on Human Factors in Electronics and an eventual merger with the IEEE Systems Science and Cybernetics Group). | Journal's Website | Hosts the IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics in different parts of the world, usually in the later part of the year. | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research (INGRoup) | Association Website | The Interdisciplinary Network for Group Research (INGRoup) is a network for “…[s]cholars who study groups and teams … [and who] … are scattered across many social scientific disciplines, such as communication, organizational behavior, psychology, and sociology”. The network: “Promotes communication about group research across fields and nations. Advances understanding about group dynamics through research. Advances theory and methods for understanding groups. Promotes interdisciplinary research”. INGRoup hosts a listserv, Facebook page and provides a variety of resources on its website. The need for INGRoup became evident in the early 2000s, and the first INGRoup conference was held in 2006. | Hosts an annual conference in Europe or the USA, usually in July | Team science and project management | |
| Intereach: Interdisciplinary Integration Research Careers Hub | Association Website | Intereach seeks “to articulate and promote the need for a dedicated career path around interdisciplinary research expertise, and to improve practitioners’ tools, best practices, success metrics, and career trajectories”. As a community of practitioners and researchers, Intereach focuses on: “Developing the Profession: Making the case for the value of Intereach professionals, Professional Development: Training and educating Intereach professionals, the disciplinary and interdisciplinary researchers they serve, and students in the pipeline for either of those paths”. Intereach members meet annually at the Science of Team Science conference. Intereach supports an electronic mailing list and a webinar series that showcases people in relevant roles, alongside discussing challenges and best practices. There is a degree of overlap between Intereach and i2S, and the two work in partnership where possible. For example, Intereach webinars are hosted on the i2S Youtube channel in a playlist called “Team Science (Intereach webinar series)”. Intereach, i2S and the community of research development professionals have co-organised and co-hosted workshops at the annual Science of Team Science conference. The network was launched in 2015. In 2019 it became a special interest group of the International Network for the Science of Team Science (INSciTS). | Education | ||
| International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences (IASCYS) | Association Website | The International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences (IASCYS) is open to all “organizations covering or applying systems theories and cybernetics around the world.” The Academy has two major missions: academic research and the promotion of education in systems science and cybernetics at all education levels. IASCYS sponsors selected international research meetings and also organises workshops at such meetings. Every two years, with the Bertalanffy Centre for the Study of Systems Science, IASCYS organises a PhD student day at the European Meeting on Cybernetics and Systems Research. Individual academicians are selected competitively and must be members of, and nominated by, one of the associations affiliated with the International Federation for Systems Research. IASCYS was established in 2010 by the International Federation for Systems Research. | Systems, modelling and simulation | ||
| International Association for Conflict Management (IACM) | Association Website | The International Association for Conflict Management (IACM) was “founded to encourage scholars and practitioners to develop and disseminate theory, research, and experience that is useful for understanding and improving conflict management in family, organizational, societal, and international settings”. IACM has a focus on: interdisciplinary theory and research; global practice and education; and being an engaging and mentoring focused community. It is a “membership-based organization of practitioners and university faculty and doctoral students from around the world”. IACM was founded in 1984. The association has a newsletter, and also a Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn presence. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in different parts of the world, usually in June-July | Conflict management |
| International Association for Critical Realism (IACR) | Association Website | The International Association for Critical Realism (IACR) has the “objective of serving as a networking or otherwise facilitating resource for anyone broadly sympathetic to, or concerned with, realist philosophy and social theory. Given the current crises in the social sciences and philosophy, it was widely felt that such a resource is urgently needed.” IACR supports an annual conference, awards a yearly prize for innovative new writing in or about the tradition of critical realism, and has its own journal, the Journal of Critical Realism (JCR). IACR also expresses an intention to “organise or help co-ordinate and publicise lectures, seminars, workshops, summer schools and related events concerned in any way with realist philosophy and social theory,” as well as to “facilitate related research projects.” From the perspective of collaborative research, critical realism provides a way to deal with ontological and epistemological concerns in science and social science that is philosophically sophisticated, theoretically rich and methodologically varied. It is an open system approach to research contexts that is inherently interdisciplinary, realist and morally aware. Critical realism is one of the major strands of scientific and social scientific theory along with positivism, post-modernism, critical inquiry, empiricism, interpretivism, etc. IACR was founded in 1997. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in a the UK, Europe or the USA, usually in mid-year. | Critical Realism |
| International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) | Association Website | International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) is “the leading global network on best practice in the use of impact assessment for informed decision making regarding policies, programs, plans and projects.” In the IAIA Fact Sheet #1, Impact Assessment (IA) is described as follows: “In its technical guise, IA seeks to evaluate and synthesize the efforts of disciplinary specialists, stakeholders, and regulatory authorities. By providing considered unbiased information, decision-makers are helped to develop or select policies, plans, programs, and projects, that will be sustainable as well as acceptable to people who will be affected. In a regulatory and institutional context, IA is a legal procedure, integral of the decision-making process to which a planned intervention will be subjected. It seeks to ensure that all stakeholders, both private and regulatory, have been engaged, their interests recognized, relevant laws and regulations addressed, and that pertinent information to the pending decision has not been omitted or exaggerated.” Of most interest to collaborative research are a number of IAIA publications, found under the sections on best-practices, fast-tips and citations, and which cover stakeholder engagement and public participation. IAIA was founded in 1980. | Journal's Website | hosts an annual conference in different parts of the world, usually in April-May | Research implementation and transformation |
| International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) | Association Website | The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is an international organization “…advancing the practice of public participation. ‘Public participation’ means to involve those who are affected by a decision in the decision-making process. It promotes sustainable decisions by providing participants with the information they need to be involved in a meaningful way, and it communicates to participants how their input affects the decision. The practice of public participation might involve public meetings, surveys, open houses, workshops, polling, citizen’s advisory committees and other forms of direct involvement with the public. IAP2’s mission is to advance and extend the practice of public participation.” IAP2 “supports international research and offers professional development training and services. IAP2 members work in industry, civil society organisations, universities, government and more. They are involved in the public participation process by supporting clients, colleagues and citizens for improved decision-making.” IAP2 was founded in 1990 and has affiliates in numerous countries, including Australasia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Italy, Southern Africa, and the USA. | Journal's Website | Host an annual regional conferences at various times of the year | Public participation |
| International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) | Association Website | The International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM) has a membership program and a LinkedIn discussion group. The focus is on improving the international community’s ability to successfully deliver complex projects. “There is a strong emerging body of evidence and research indicating that traditional, linear project management tools and techniques, while still necessary, are insufficient to manage the most complex of today’s projects through to successful delivery on time and within costs and performance targets. A primary focus of ICCPM is to work with its partners and the international community to fund, facilitate and conduct applied research that advances knowledge and practice in the management of complex projects. The aim is to share these outcomes with its partners across all industry and government sectors, and with the global community.” ICCPM was established in 2005, was previously known as the College of Complex Project Managers, and is an international not-for-profit company “established by Australian, UK and US government bodies and major defence industry corporations”. | Hosts an annual conference in different parts of the world, usually later in the year. | Team science and project management | |
| International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) | Association Website | The International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) is “a not-for-profit membership organization founded to develop and disseminate the interdisciplinary principles and practices that enable the realization of successful systems.” INCOSE is designed to connect systems engineering professionals “with educational, networking, and career-advancement opportunities in the interest of developing the global community of systems engineers and systems approaches to problems.” INCOSE has more than 70 local chapters in over 35 countries. It was founded in 1990. | Hosts an annual symposium, usually mid-year in global locations | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| International Environmental Modelling & Software Society (iEMSs) | Association Website | The International Environmental Modelling & Software Society (iEMSs) deals with “environmental modelling, software and related topics”. “The aims of the iEMSs are to: develop and use environmental modelling and software tools to advance the science and improve decision making with respect to resource and environmental issues. This places an emphasis on interdisciplinarity and the development of generic frameworks and methodologies which integrate models and software tools across issues, scales, disciplines and stakeholders with respect to resource and environmental issues; promote contacts among physical, social and natural scientists, economists and software developers from different countries and coordinate their activities; improve the cooperation between the sciences and decision makers/advisors on environmental matters; exchange information in the field of environmental modelling and software among scientific and educational organizations and private enterprises, as well as non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies.” The date of founding is not given, but is likely to be around 2000. | Journal's Website | Hosts a conference every second year, usually in June or July and alternating between Europe and North America | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) | Association Website | The International Federation for Systems Research (IFSR) is “the peak body of the systems community. It is a virtual platform that convenes and facilitates the rich academic tradition not only but primarily of system sciences, cybernetics and complexity theory as a basis and the many vivid practices and applications set out to meet the challenges of the Anthropocene in the 21st century.” Only organisations can be members of IFSR. IFSR has a journal, newsletter and a book series on systems science and engineering. The old website (http://www.ifsr.org/) has links to resources related to the study of systems. IFSR was founded in 1981 and the new website (see link below) was launched in 2019. | Journal's Website | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) | Association Website | 3ie is an international non-government organisation “promoting evidence-informed development policies and programmes”. It funds and produces “high-quality evidence of what works, how, why and at what cost in international development.” It aims to 1) “Generate new evidence of what works”, 2) “Synthesise and disseminate this evidence”, 3) “Build a culture of evidence-based policy-making” and 4) “Develop capacity to produce and use impact evaluations”. Although most of the work produced and funded by 3ie focuses on addressing specific problems, some publications in the 3ie working paper and scoping paper series intersect with collaborative research interests in producing generally-applicable information about how research can support policy and practice change. 3ie is not a traditional membership organisation. Members are large institutions which implement development programs. There is no individual membership, but individuals can apply to be included in an expert register. It was founded in 2008. | Impact Evaluation | ||
| International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) | Association Website | The International Society for Ecological Economics (ISEE) is “dedicated to advancing understanding of the relationships among ecological, social, and economic systems for the mutual well-being of nature and people.” “The Society assists its members and ecological economists, regional societies of ecological economics, related societies, and other organizations in such matters of common concern as can be dealt with more effectively by united action. To this end, the Society publishes a research journal, books, and other materials; holds and sponsors scientific meetings; develops educational materials; and facilitates a voice for ecological economists in public forums.” There are a number of regional societies including in Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Russia and North and South America. The Society was founded in 1989. | Journal's Website | Host a biennial conference (on even numbered years) in different global locations, usually mid-year; some regional societies also host conferences | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, sustainability science |
| International Society for Knowledge and Systems Sciences (ISKSS) | Association Website | The International Society for Knowledge and Systems Sciences (ISKSS) takes a broad-based and open-minded approach to the knowledge and system sciences so that they inform each other methodologically and practically to the benefit of each. The “overall purpose of ISKSS is to promote development of knowledge science and systems science, as well as collaboration between [these] two sciences. It further seeks to encourage research and facilitate communication between … scientists and professionals from various disciplines and professions at local, regional, national, and international levels”. ISKSS was established in 2003 at the International Symposium on Knowledge and Systems Sciences in Guangzhou, China. Proceedings of the annual International Symposium on Knowledge and System Sciences since 2016 are available. | Until 2019, hosted an annual: International Symposium on Knowledge and System Sciences (KSS), usually in the later part of the year in Asia. | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) | Association Website | The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is “devoted to interdisciplinary inquiry into the nature of complex systems.” It is “broadly inclusive”. The scope of ISSS includes “purely theoretical and technical considerations”, as well as “practical application of systems methodologies to problem solving. Even more importantly, it has provided a forum where scholars and practitioners from across the disciplinary spectrum, representing academic, business, government, and non-profit communities, can come together to share ideas and learn from one another.” It was founded in 1956. ISSS has more than 20 special integration groups, including action research, agent-based social systems, critical systems theory and practice, organisational transformation and social change, socio-ecological systems, and systems modeling and simulation. The website provides a list of systems related journals and ISSS produces an annual General Systems Bulletin, which includes society business news and a membership list. | Hosts an annual conference in various parts of the world, usually in July | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| International Society of Multiple Criteria Decision Making | Association Website | The purposes of the International Society of Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) “are to develop, test, evaluate and apply methodologies for solving multiple criteria decision making problems, to foster interaction and research in the scientific field of multiple criteria decision making, and to cooperate with other organizations in the study of management from a quantitative perspective”. MCDM does this by: “facilitating communications, providing academic assistance with ideas, methods and contacts whenever and wherever needed, sponsoring international conferences for the dissemination of results, encouraging special purpose workshops and student exchanges, publishing the electronic newsletter, and encouraging an environment of international colleagueship and friendship across the globe”. MCDM is defined as “the study of methods and procedures by which concerns about multiple conflicting criteria can be formally incorporated into the management planning process.” The International Society of MCDM was founded in 1998. | Journal's Website | Hosts a biennial conference in different parts of the world, usually in the middle of the year | Uncertainty, risk and decision making |
| Knowledge Brokers’ Forum | Association Website | The Knowledge Brokers’ Forum aims to build a global community supporting knowledge brokers in their work. The website provides access to a discussion forum, journal club and membership list. Access to the website requires membership, which is free. A founding date for the Knowledge Brokers’ Forum is not provided. | Education | ||
| Knowledge Management for Development (KM4Dev) | Association Website | Knowledge Management for Development (KM4Dev) “is a global community of practice of primarily international development practitioners interested in knowledge management and knowledge sharing theory, practice and related matters.” The self-organising community aims to follow these supporting principles: “Open and interactive in nature; Supports and encourages a mix of individuals (Northern and Southern participation; large and small organizations; academics and practitioners; male and female); (International) development is the specific, underlying context” to the exploration of knowledge management / knowledge sharing issues and approaches. KM4Dev provides a wiki, as well as a blog and supports a discussion group alongside a set of working groups. It aims to organise at least one face-to-face workshop per year. KM4Dev was founded in 2000. | Journal's Website | Research implementation and transformation | |
| Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ) | Association Website | The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ) aims to promote, develop and assist in the study of all areas of modelling and simulation. A primary mechanism through which it does this is through biennial congresses and the society has a global membership base from “a wide range of professional disciplines including hydrology, agricultural science, economics, engineering, atmospheric science, ecology and many others”. MSSANZ runs a mailing list and a newsletter. The society can trace its roots back to 1974 and was incorporated in 1997. MSSANZ is affiliated with the International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (IMACS), and the Society for Computer Simulation (SCS). | Hosts a biennial congress in Australiasia, usually in December. | Systems, modelling and simulation | |
| National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) | Association Website | The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) was established to “support a culture change in the UK higher education sector” by supporting “universities to increase the quality and impact of their public engagement activity.” It is primarily focused on the UK, but has a growing international reputation and international members can join networks organised by NCCPE and access the resources they produce. NCCPE is not a conventional membership organisation, but supports a variety of networks (accessible via: https://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/support-engagement/engagement-professionals/build-network): “Engage Academy for engagement professionals, which provides continuing professional development, and an opportunity to engage with a range of other participants. Engage Researchers’ Academy for researchers with a passion for engagement, which supports participants to develop the skills and experience to work with others and improve the impact and relevance of their research. Public Engagement Network, a jiscmail list for people committed to public engagement with higher education, who want to share ideas, opportunities, experiences and problem solve together. In addition, participants can advertise events, research and news that they think will be relevant to the group. Engaged Practice Learning Exchange (EPLE) are an opportunity for those engaged in practices and programming around public engagement and other forms of community-university activity to have some time and space to stimulate innovation in what they do” and this is undertaken “through providing workshops at international conferences that focus on public engagement and community-university engagement.” “UK Community Partner Network is a network of people involved with community-based organisations interested in working with universities to tackle social concerns and inequalities.” “Public Engagement Professionals (PEP) Network aims to support public engagement professionals across the UK working in higher education and research to access continuing professional development (CPD), peer support and the latest thinking on engagement.” The PEP Network welcomes “those working in similar roles in the sector, or those working with higher education institutions, research institutes or funders to coordinate and support public engagement.” The network also welcomes “members from outside the UK, but the majority of our membership is UK-based and therefore the content of events/discussions reflects this.” NCCPE also provides, via its website, resources on engagement, which focuses on learning about, delivering and supporting effective public engagement. They run a blog, a yearly conference, provide education, and part fund (with the University College of London (UCL) Institute of Education) the journal ‘Research for All’. NCCPE promotes expanding the role of engagement within higher education through their EDGE (‘Embryonic’, ‘Developing’, ‘Gripping’ and ‘Embedded’) tool, which assesses the extent to which an institution supports public engagement and the ‘Manifesto for Public Engagement’, which invites higher education institutions to make a commitment to public engagement. NCCPE was founded in 2008. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in the United Kingdom and usually late in the year | Engagement |
| National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) | Association Website | The National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) is a “peer network of Research Development professionals that enhances competitive multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research”. Research Development professionals “support the efforts of faculty to secure extramural research funding and initiate and nurture critical partnerships throughout the institutional research enterprise, among institutions, and with external stakeholders”. Although beginning in the USA, NORDP has expanded globally in its goal “to develop and share best practices for attracting and managing research funding, and facilitate building and implementing collaborative services and resources that span across disciplines, and cross administrative boundaries within organizations and beyond, in order to foster multi- and interdisciplinary research excellence”. NORDP runs a listserv, a newsletter and a LinkedIn group for its members. It was founded in 2010. | Hosts an annual conference in the USA in May. | Research Development | |
| Network of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research Organisations (NITRO) – Oceania | Association Website | NITRO – Oceania is a “network of leaders fostering interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and education within and across organisations in the Oceania region.” The aim of the network is to inspire and support “researchers to achieve transformational impact on global challenges by: Fostering attention to grand challenges of particular significance to the Oceania region, Creating supportive environments and infrastructure, Developing effective metrics for excellence, impact and return on investment, Improving funding availability and outcomes, Supporting next generation organisational leaders, Providing effective career paths and role models for interdisciplinarians and transdisciplinarians at all levels, and especially to support early-career researchers, Developing workable transition pathways to implementation of new metrics and effective career paths.” The network defines “interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary organisations as those fostering research and/or education that integrates across disciplines to more comprehensively understand and support action on complex societal and environmental problems. Such research and education may also involve: a) engaging with stakeholders, including decision makers and other research users; and, b) research implementation into policy and practice change.” Organisations that are included in this definition can be “diverse in size, funding, structure and mission. Some have interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity as the core focus; for others interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research and education sit alongside a wide range of discipline-based activities.” Membership of NITRO – Oceania is open to leaders in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary organisations in the Oceania region. The inaugural meeting of the network took place in Brisbane, Australia in May 2019. NITRO-Oceania has several working groups, including one focused on impact narratives (success stories), and is also active in a global network of leaders in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research organisations. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods | ||
| Operational Research Society (OR Society) | Association Website | The Operational Research Society (often shortened to the OR Society) advances operational research, especially by providing services to operational research professionals. “Most of the problems OR tackles are messy and complex, often entailing considerable uncertainty. OR can use advanced quantitative methods, modelling, problem structuring, simulation and other analytical techniques to examine assumptions, facilitate an in-depth understanding and decide on practical action.” The OR Society aims to demonstrate “to the wider community the benefits, in terms of greater efficiency, improved service or otherwise, that O.R. can bring to society”. The OR Society has members in 53 countries and a number of regional societies and special interest groups. It provides a wide range of online resources and networking opportunities, including a YouTube channel. The society was founded in 1948 as the Operational Research Club, and known from 1953 under its current name of the Operational Research Society. | Journal's Website | Hosts a variety of conferences, but in particular hosts an annual conference in Europe, usually in September each year | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| Philosophy of / as Interdisciplinarity Network (PIN) | Association Website | “The mission of the Philosophy of / as Interdisciplinarity Network is to find a niche within the broad field of interdisciplinarity studies by combining two directions of activities: on the one hand, philosophical inquiry into problems regarding the practices and theories of interdisciplinary research in the style of traditional philosophy of science and, on the other, initiating a new philosophical practice of reflective and reflexive engagement in the world – one that questions and overcomes the boundaries that have constituted philosophy as a discipline in the 20th Century. In this second direction philosophers leave the study and enter the field, integrating their work with scientists, engineers, and policy makers”. A founding date is not provided. The network hosts a listserv. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods | ||
| Progressive Connexions | Association Website | Progressive Connexions is “a not-for-profit network inspiring inclusive interdisciplinary research, publishing and collaboration.” A key activity is building “a range of sustainable global interdisciplinary research projects” on the topics of: Cultures and Societies, Evil, Food and Drink, Gender and Sexualities, Global Transformations, Health and Illness, Human Rights, Making Sense Of Music, Narratives, Persons, Communities Spirituality and Storytelling. A series of projects is developed under each topic with the aim of “creating an interdisciplinary ethos which establishes spaces of equality within which people can meet, talk and engage in a spirit of openness and transparency.” Projects start with an initial meeting and aim to “enable the further development of collaborative international networking and reciprocal ventures.” The projects also provide the basis of a book series with Emerald Publishing. Progressive Connexions is also building other activities including around accreditation and “innovative interdisciplinary practices for academic, commercial, NGO, practitioner and voluntary sector contexts.” Membership: Membership in Progressive Connexions comes about through involvement in activities, such as projects, in that “participants begin to develop lasting significant professional and personal relationships and to collaborate towards generating real, durable change in their respective fields of activity and in society as a whole.” Progressive Connexions was formed in 2018, as a successor to the now-defunct Inter-Disciplinary.Net which was founded in 1999. | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity and action research methods | ||
| Project Management Institute (PMI) | Association Website | Project Management Institute (PMI) is a “professional membership association for the project, program and portfolio management profession.” It focuses on “global advocacy, collaboration, education and research” and aims to mature “the profession of project management through its globally recognized standards, certifications, resources, tools, academic research, publications, professional development courses, and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, Human Systems International (HSI) provides organizational assessment and benchmarking services to … businesses and government, while ProjectManagement.com and ProjectsAtWork.com create online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives.” The association provides a variety of resources (some only for members), an extensive networking platform, a certification process, and a variety of publications and professional development opportunities. The association was founded in 1969 and has offices which cover the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia-Pacific; India and China. | Journal's Website | Hosts multiple conferences in different parts of the world over any given year, for example, in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. | Team science and project management |
| research 4 impact (r4i) | Association Website | research 4 impact envisions “a world in which people with diverse forms of knowledge seamlessly learn from each other, particularly those working to understand and solve complex social problems.” In order to make this vision real, r4i aims to create new collaborations, both informal and formal, and this is articulated through three main goals: “matchmaking that creates powerful new collaborations between social scientists and community leaders sharing what [r4i has learned] about how to build new collaborations between people with diverse forms of knowledge interactive workshops that teach others how to build powerful new collaborations themselves.” Specifically, r4i has a matchmaking process where they “apply an evidence-based approach for directly connecting social scientists and practitioners, and social scientists and local policymakers… Most of these matches are for informal collaborations in which people share knowledge, are open to learning from others, and gain new awareness of the boundaries of what they know and their lived experience.” r4i also produces easy to read articles where they share what they have learnt about how to create new collaborations. Further, they run workshops “that provides participants with the tools they need to confidently initiate new collaborations themselves.” To assist in outreach, they publish an e-newsletter . The r4i “community is growing and wide-ranging, and includes social scientists (political scientists, economists, behavioral scientists, psychologists, communications researchers, and many others), policy analysts, nonprofit leaders, government officials, and others who work on pressing problems in the public and private sphere.” r4i was founded in 2018. | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| Research to Action (R2A) | Association Website | Research to Action (R2A) is an initiative catering for the strategic and practical needs of people trying to improve the way development research is communicated and utilised.” The mission of R2A is to “guide and support effective research engagement and communication. The result of which can ‘help give research a chance’ to inform decision-making processes, bring about social change and have ‘impact’.” In making research “more interesting, accessible and relevant to policymakers and practitioners, it will more likely be utilised”. A founding date is not provided. R2A is a resources website, rather than a professional association or network. It hosts a newsletter and blog, and is on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Vimeo. | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| Resilience Engineering Association (REA) | Association Website | The Resilience Engineering Association (REA) is “a home for scientists and practitioners … concerned with understanding the many facets, views and understandings of the term ‘resilience’.” The Association has evolved over time to support resilience engineering in its fullest sense, as “a trans-disciplinary perspective that focuses on developing theories and practices that are necessary to enable complex-socio technical systems and organizations to continue operations or to deliver essential services when dealing with expected and unexpected situations (prior, during and after). It addresses complexity, non-linearity, inter-dependencies, emergence, formal and informal social structures, threats and opportunities.” REA runs biennial symposia on resilience engineering, produces podcasts, webinars, newsletters and a blog, and provides a range of informative resources on the topic of resilience engineering. The society was founded in 2011. | Hosts a biennial symposium in Europe, usually mid-year | Uncertainty, risk and decision making | |
| Society for Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) | Association Website | The Society for Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) is “a multi-disciplinary association of professionals working to improve processes, methods, and tools for decision making under deep uncertainty, facilitate their use in practice, and foster effective and responsible decision making in our rapidly changing world… Deep uncertainty exists when parties to a decision do not know, or cannot agree on, the system model that relates action to consequences, the probability distributions to place over the inputs to these models, which consequences to consider and their relative importance. Deep uncertainty often involves decisions that are made over time in dynamic interaction with [a] system”. Goals of the DMDU are: “Research: Improve understanding and advance the capabilities of theory, methods, and tools for decision making under deep uncertainty. Practice: Help public and private sector organizations make better decisions by encouraging widespread practical application of the knowledge, methods, and tools for decision making under deep uncertainty. Education and Training: Provide training and training materials for scholars, practitioners, decision makers, and the public. Dissemination: Disseminate knowledge about decision making under deep uncertainty methods and tools, and their applications in practice. Career Development: Help members to pursue and develop their careers in decision making under deep uncertainty. Community: Provide a community and a professional network where members can share ideas, foster collaboration, benefit from support and feedback, and be inspired and energized through interactions with their peers”. The society provides a blog on the topic of uncertainty and a list of publications that may be of interest to members. A founding date is not provided. | Hosts an annual workshop in the USA or Europe, usually in November | Uncertainty, risk and decision making | |
| Society for Human Ecology (SHE) | Association Website | “The Society for Human Ecology (SHE) is an international interdisciplinary professional society that promotes the use of an ecological perspective in research, education, and application.” Of particular relevance to collaborative research is that SHE’s goals include to “Identify problems, discover their origins, examine possible solutions and their implications, and then make recommendations for implementing those solutions.” | Journal's Website | Hosts a conference every year or second year in different parts of the world and at different times of the year | Interdisciplinarity, transdisciplinarity, sustainability science |
| Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) | Association Website | The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) is “dedicated to facilitating communication and collaboration between implementation research teams, researchers, and community providers. SIRC aims to bring together researchers and stakeholders committed to the rigorous evaluation of implementation” of Evidence Based Psychosocial Interventions (EBPI). SIRC runs a biennial conference dedicated to facilitating communication and collaboration between implementation research teams, researchers, and community providers alongside supporting a community interested in advancing the field of implementation research (known as the Network of Expertise). It was founded in around 2010. | Hosts a biennial conference in the United States of America. Past conferences have been held in May and September. | Research implementation and transformation | |
| Society for Judgment and Decision Making (SJDM) | Association Website | The Society for Judgment and Decision Making (SJDM) “is an interdisciplinary academic organization dedicated to the study of normative, descriptive, and prescriptive theories of judgments and decisions. Its members include psychologists, economists, organizational researchers, decision analysts, and other decision researchers”. The society holds an annual meeting, and has published a book series, alongside producing an open-access journal and a quarterly newsletter. Members have access to an electronic mailing list and the SJDM website holds a variety of topic relevant resources. SJDM was launched in 1980. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference, during November in North America; for information see the society home page | Uncertainty, risk and decision making |
| Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) | Association Website | “The Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) is a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, scholarly, international society that provides an open forum for all those who are interested in risk analysis. Risk analysis is broadly defined to include risk assessment, risk characterization, risk communication, risk management, and policy relating to risk, in the context of risks of concern to individuals, to public- and private-sector organizations, and to society at a local, regional, national, or global level”. The SRA aims to: “Bring together individuals from diverse disciplines and from different countries and provide them opportunities to exchange information, ideas, and methodologies for risk analysis and risk problem solving; Foster understanding and professional collaboration among individuals and organizations for the purpose of contributing to risk analysis and risk problem solving; Facilitate the dissemination of knowledge about risk and risk methods and their applications; Encourage applications of risk analysis methods; Promote advancement of the state-of-the-art in research and education on risk analysis; and Provide services to its members to assist them in developing their careers in risk analysis.” The society has various regional organisations, notably in Australia/New Zealand, China, Egypt, Europe, Japan, Latin America, North America, Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, as well as speciality groups, including decision analysis and risk and risk communication. The SRA was established in 1980. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in the US, usually in December; some regional associations also host conferences | Uncertainty, risk and decision making |
| Society of Policy Scientists | Association Website | The purpose of the Society of Policy Scientists is to “advance knowledge and practice in the policy sciences in the service of human dignity for all. Consistent with this basic purpose, the Society encourages and supports research, practice, and education in the policy sciences. Whether the problems are local, regional, international, or planetary, the policy sciences provide an integrated and comprehensive set of procedures for addressing them in ways that help to clarify and secure the common interest. … the policy sciences draw on and contribute to all fields of knowledge. The emphasis is on comprehending problems in context in order to develop recommendations that are both realistic and desirable. The content and procedures of many disciplines may be brought constructively to bear on efforts to achieve such results.” The society hosts a number of listservs, one of which is open to non-members with a general interest in this field. The society was established in 1995, and was once known as the Society for the Policy Sciences. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference in the USA, usually later in the year | Research implementation and transformation |
| System Dynamics Society | Association Website | The System Dynamics Society is “devoted to encouraging the development and use of System Dynamics and systems thinking around the world.” It “provides a forum in which researchers, educators, students, consultants and practitioners in the academic, corporate and public sectors interact to keep abreast of current developments, build on each other’s work and introduce newcomers to the field.” There are members in more than 75 countries. 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.” “Conceptually, the feedback concept is at the heart of the System Dynamics approach. Diagrams of loops of information feedback and circular causality are tools for conceptualizing the structure of a complex system and for communicating model-based insights.” The society provides guidance to options for online learning and an on-going collection of more than 60 cases illustrating projects that used system dynamics as their method. Cases cover a range of topics including: aerospace, criminal justice, health care, human resource management, sales and marketing, and waste management. A founding date is not provided, but the first conference was held in 1983. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual conference generally alternating between the US and Europe, usually in July | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| The Integrated Assessment Society (TIAS) | Association Website | The Integrated Assessment Society (TIAS) promotes “the community of inter-disciplinary and disciplinary scientists, analysts and practitioners who develop and use integrated assessment. The goals of the society are to nurture this community, to promote the development of IA [Integrated Assessment] and to encourage its wise application.” “Integrated assessment (IA) can be defined as the scientific “meta-discipline” that integrates knowledge about a problem domain and makes it available for societal learning and decision making processes. Public policy issues involving long-range and long-term environmental management are where the roots of integrated assessment can be found. However, today, IA is used to frame, study and solve issues at other scales. IA has been developed for acid rain, climate change, land degradation, water and air quality management, forest and fisheries management and public health. The field of Integrated Assessment engages stakeholders and scientists, often drawing these from many disciplines.” IA was founded in 2003. | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| Theory of Change Community | Association Website | Theory of Change “shows a causal pathway from here to there by specifying what is needed for goals to be achieved”, articulates “underlying assumptions which can be tested and measured” and “changes the way of thinking about initiatives from what you are doing to what you want to achieve and starts there.” The website provides “Theory of Change Online” or “TOCO”, is an accessible, easy-to-use learning tool for creating and implementing a Theory of Change. It provides users with a flexible drawing canvas for building, editing, and soliciting feedback.” Slide decks, publications and webinars are also provided. The community has more than 10,000 members in 60 countries. The Theory of Change community is run by the Centre for Theory of Change. The Centre for Theory of Change was established by ActKnowledge, although the date is not provided. | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| UK Implementation Society (UK-IS) | Association Website | The UK Implementation Society (UK-IS) “is an independent membership organisation and a registered charity connecting those working in implementation science, practice and policy for services for people. The UK Implementation Society intends to promote, increase and sustain knowledge and understanding of the science of implementation in public benefit services, and to advance practice in applying this knowledge on the ground, especially in the particular contexts of UK services and systems”. The primary objective of the UK Implementation Society is “the advancement of the science and practice of implementation for the public benefit, by: championing and promoting knowledge about the importance of high quality implementation for improving outcomes from services, building understanding of effective implementation by collating, developing and disseminating knowledge resources on implementation science, practice and policy, building capacity and skills by supporting, organising and hosting learning, training and education on implementation, establishing mechanisms, structures and networks that facilitate connections and share learning between those working in the field, supporting the development of the evidence base on effective implementation of services to people, supporting the mobilisation and application of implementation evidence and knowledge in policy and in practice in other appropriate ways.” Resources produced by the UK Implementation Society include a news bulletin (Implementation Knowledge and News) and a series of Implementation Resource Digests. The UK Implementation Society, launched in 2017, grew out of the UK Implementation Network (which was launched in 2014). | Research implementation and transformation | ||
| UK Systems Society (UKSS) | Association Website | The UK Systems Society is the United Kingdom professional society “committed to the development and promotion of ‘systems’ philosophy, theory, practice, models, concepts and methodologies for improving decision making and problem solving for the benefit of organisations and our wider society.” It aims to “increase awareness of systems thinking and to share experiences of practice.” From 2014 to 2018 the Society produced the International Journal for Systems and Society, which has ceased its formal association with the society. The society was founded in 1975. | Journal's Website | Hosts an annual international conference in the UK, usually between June and September | Systems, modelling and simulation |
| World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC) | Association Website | The World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC) “is an association of individuals and organisations promoting systems thinking and cybernetics worldwide.” The aims of the organisation are: “To promote and foster global and local collaboration of parties interested in systems and cybernetics, aiming at the inclusion of representatives from all parts of the world, To co-operate with other organisations in matters related to systems thinking and cybernetics, To organise triennial congresses in different parts of the world, To make apparent the effectiveness of methods of systems and cybernetics in all areas of social systems and management, modern technology and the sciences in general, To promote educational programs devoted to the distribution of knowledge and information of systems and cybernetics.” The World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics is a membership based organisation, and “through the Norbert Wiener Institute WOSC supports the publication by its members of reports, projects, papers and communications in general. These activities are enabled by WOSC’s official journal, its website and other networking tools. The Institute also supports activities at WOSC’s congresses and other suitable educational and research and development meetings”. The organisation was launched in 1969. | Journal's Website | Hosts a triennial conference, globally located and open as to the time of year | Systems, modelling and simulation |