Call for creating a “Systems” platform

On 25th of October 2017, Purdue Systems Collaboratory held a discussion luncheon with about 25 faculty and staff across the Purdue Colleges interested in systems science and systems thinking. The goal was to set up a network of systems researchers and educators and create a platform that facilitates interactions of colleagues involved or interested in complex systems, integration, systems tools, convergence, human systems, natural systems, human built systems, economic systems and political systems.

At the gathering, a brief overview of PSC and recent activities were provided and value of creating a research network was discussed. For more information on the value of network with particular focus on NSF Research Coordination Networks program, see the article “Research Coordination Networks: Evidence of the Relationship between Funded Interdisciplinary Networking and Scholarly Impact”.

Professor Nancy Pelaez from Purdue department of Biological Sciences, who is a PI on the Advancing Competencies in Experimentation – Biology (ACE-Bio) Network, the project evaluator of the Faculty Development Network for Undergraduate Biology (FDN- UB) and speaker at the RCN-UBE Summit in 2016, explained the impact of current collaborations and the need to develop measures of impact for RCN’s.

Attendees brainstormed in small groups and discussed possible thematic areas for an RCN proposal focused on “systems”. PSC invites anyone in the Purdue community to join them as they continue to explore unifying themes for transdisciplinary “systems” research. For more information, contact PSC Senior Program Manager Kat Burkhart at caburkha@purdue.edu or 765-496-5318.