Professor in Systems
<p>I am involved in several collaborative research projects at the moment including a NSFC (National Science Foundation of China) project on"medium - to long-term decision support methods on water resources management in the Heihe River Basin, China - Application of systems thinking and approaches to developing river basin science" in collaboration with<a href="http://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/14178" rel="nofollow">A/Prof Yongping Wei, University of Queensland</a><a href="http://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/14178" rel="nofollow"></a>and<a href="http://sourcedb.careeri.cas.cn/yw/rck/fs/201412/t20141223_4280541.html" rel="nofollow">Professor Xin Li and colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Science</a>(CAS). Another part of this collaboration includes a project “Co-production processes of knowledge of global water governance”. This research aims to develop an understanding of co-evolutionary production processes of knowledge of global water governance based on the datasets of research articles on hydrology/water resources published on the web of science from 1900 to 2012. </p><p>In Australia I continute to be involved in an on-going research programme"Enhancing the governance of natural resources in Victoria through collaboration". This began from the Systemic Governance Research Program and continues as an on-going systemic inquiry comprising five sub-inquiries, with<a href="https://gardensforwildlifevictoria.com/coordinating-group/" rel="nofollow">funding to stakeholder consortia</a>funded by<a href="https://www2.delwp.vic.gov.au/" rel="nofollow">DELWP</a>and philanthropic sources.</p><p>My most recent OU research role completed in early 2016 was as Chief Investigator within the international<a href="http://www.cadwago.net/" rel="nofollow">CADWAGO project</a> (<em>Climate change adaptation and water governance - reconciling food security, renewable energy and the provision of multiple ecosystem services</em>).</p><p>With my OU colleagues Chris Blackmore, Kevin Collins and Natalie Foster we were responsible for a work package (WP) on systemic governance and also contributed to a WP on governance learning. This project is funded by the<a href="http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/funding/international-focus/europe-and-global-challenges.html" rel="nofollow">Europe and Global Challenges Program</a>, an initiative of three Foundations:<a href="http://www.compagnia.torino.it/eng" rel="nofollow">Compagnia di San Paolo</a>, Turin/Italy, the<a href="http://www.rj.se/en/" rel="nofollow">Riksbanken Jubileumsfond</a>, Stockholm/Sweden and the<a href="http://VolkswagenStiftung" rel="nofollow">VolkswagenStiftung</a>, Hannover/Germany. There were 76 proposals from international consortia; 15 were short listed and invited to proceed with main proposal and hearing and f<a href="http://www.rj.se/svenska/var_forskning/europe_and_global_challenges" rel="nofollow">our were selected for funding from the 15</a>. </p><p>During 2014-15 I initiated and led a systemic inquiry into"Governing the Anthropocene: Cybersystemic Possibilities", at Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover with<a href="https://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/en/funding.html" rel="nofollow">VWStiftung funding</a>via<a href="https://www.wins.hu-berlin.de/" rel="nofollow">WINS (Berlin Workshop in Institutional Analysis of Social-Ecological Systems)</a>, Humbolt University, Berlin. The<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/govan/">design and outcomes are accessible on this site.</a></p><p>From 2013-20 I am committed to the"<a href="http://www.award.org.za/project/resilience-in-the-limpopo-basin" rel="nofollow">RESILIM-Olifants</a>Governance" action research initiative. RESILIM-O is an US$8.5 million project called“Building improved transboundary governance and management of the Olifants Catchment of the Limpopo Basin for enhanced resiliency of its people and ecosystems to environmental change through systemic and participatory approaches”. My roles include: (i) guiding and participating in systemic action research on governing the RESILIM project together with AWARD; (ii) contributing to joint publications on systemic governance research; (iii) providing conceptual and methodological guidance to RESILIM-O and (iv) acting as a member of the International Reference group for the program:</p><p>I have led and/or contributed to a number of major research programs and projects including: </p><ul><li>2000-2004:<a href="https://sites.google.com/site/slimsociallearningforiwm/" rel="nofollow">SLIM</a>(<em>Social Learning for the Integrated Management and sustainable use of water at catchment scale</em>) from 2000-04, a major interdisciplinary 5th Framework program (30 researchers, 6 countries) researching social learning for sustainable river catchment management;</li><li>2003-8 Environment Agency (EA) funded research projects to develop and embed social learning approaches within river basin planning and managing processes as well as the doing of integrated catchment science</li><li>2000-2006: an EPSRC funded<a href="http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=GR/R14613/01" rel="nofollow">Systems Practice for Managing Complexity Network</a><u> </u>(see also<a href="http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/sd/academic/ee/work/research/clis/welcome/spmc/" rel="nofollow">SPMC</a>)</li><li>2009-10: Strengthening research capacity of China and South Africa in sustainable water resources management with UK and Australian experiences. The Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation program (NERC/ESRC/DfID)</li></ul><p>In all I have edited or co-edited nine Special Editions of Journals which have each had significant impact:</p><p>Smith, T., Plummer, R., Ison, RL, Powell, N. eds (2016) <em>Special Issue<a href="http://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/special_issues/water-governance" rel="nofollow">"Water Governance in Times of Change: Perceptions, Institutions, Praxis and Learning" </a>Water</em></p><p>Jiggins, J., Blackmore, C.P., Ison, R.L.& Röling, N. (2016)<a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0030727016672951" rel="nofollow">Editorial<em>Outlook on Agriculture</em></a></p><p>Ison, R.L& Shelley, M. (2016) Editorial. Governing in the Anthropocene: Contributions from Systems Thinking in Practice? ISSS Yearbook Special Issue,<em>Systems Research& Behavioral Science</em>33 (5) 589-594.</p><p>Jiggins, J., Ison, R.L.& Röling, N. (2014) Special issue: System innovation– towards sustainable agriculture. Introduction.<em>Outlook on Agriculture</em>, 43, (3), 145–146.</p><p>Godden, L., Ison, R.L.,& Wallis, P. (2011) Editorial. Water governance in a climate change world: Appraising systemic and adaptive effectiveness,<em>Water Resources Management</em>(Special Issue) 25 (15) 3971-3976.</p><p>Collins, K.B.& Ison, R.L. (2009) Editorial. Living with environmental change: adaptation as social learning. Special Edition,<em>Environmental Policy& Governance</em>19, 351-357.</p><p>Blackmore, C.P., Ison, R.L.& Jiggins, J. (2007) Editorial. Social learning: an alternative policy instrument for managing in the context of Europe's water. Special Edition,<em>Environmental Science& Policy</em>10 (6) 493-498.</p><p>Ison, R.L. (2005) Editorial. Geoffrey Vickers 2004: Contemporary applications and changing appreciative settings. Special Edition<em>Systems Research& Behavioral Science</em>22, 1-8.</p><p>Ison, R.L. (1999). Editorial: Applying systems thinking to higher education. Special Edition<em>Systems Research& Behavioural Science</em>16, 107-112<em>.</em></p>
<p>Appointed Professor of Systems at the Open University in 1994, my research and scholarship spans the biophysical and social and is primarily interdisciplinary and collaborative. At the Open University I have had periods as head of the former Systems Department (1995-8; 2005-6; 25 academic staff), Director of the Environmental Decision Making Program, and am now involved in: (i) managing and presenting the post-graduate program in<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/ou/systemsthinking">Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP)</a> and undertaking associated<a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/2/2/119" rel="nofollow">Systems scholarship</a>; (ii) contributing to the activities of the<a href="http://www9.open.ac.uk/mct-ei/research/applied-systems-thinking-practice">Applied Systems Thinking in Practice (ASTiP) Group</a>, including leading an initiative to create a LEVEL 7 (Masters) Apprenticeship for the Systems Thinking Practitioner based on the<a href="https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships" rel="nofollow">UK Apprenticeship Levy</a>and (iii) undertaking international research. </p><p><strong><em>2017 highlights:</em></strong></p><ul><li><p>Appointed Member of the Scientific Council of the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS), an Austrian independent research institute, internationally acknowledged as an ambassador for the systems science heritage and present state-of-the-art of applied systems research<a href="http://www.bcsss.org/the-center/scientific-council/">http://www.bcsss.org/the-center/scientific-council/</a></p></li><li>ASTiP research was showcased in a day symposium held at the Open University (Walton Hall) under the sponsorship of the<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/research/themes/citizenship-governance">Citizenship and Governance Strategic Research Initiative</a>. The f<a href="http://podcast.open.ac.uk/pod/governance-20170515">ull suite of presentations are available to view here.</a></li><li>The<a href="http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9781447173502" rel="nofollow">second edition of my book'Systems Practice</a>' was published in September 2017.</li></ul><p><img alt="" src="/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/images/Ison2017.jpg" style="height:216px; width:144px" /></p><ul><li>My<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj6MR9IFedI&feature=share" rel="nofollow">Keynote presentation to WOSC 2017</a>(World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics) in January in Rome is available on-line. </li><li>A free course using our ASTiP resources called'<a href="http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/mastering-systems-thinking-practice/content-section-overview">Mastering Systems Practice</a>' is now available on OpenLearn.</li></ul><p><em><strong>Earlier highlights:</strong></em></p><p>In 2016 I was appointed an<a href="http://www.iascys.org/" rel="nofollow">Academician of IASCYS</a>(International Academy of Systems and Cybernetic Sciences) in‘<em>recognition of outstanding contributions to research and practice in systems and cybernetic sciences’</em>. In the same year Wesley College (University of Sydney) awarded me its<a href="http://www.wesleycollege-usyd.edu.au/event/foundation-medal-dinner/" rel="nofollow">Foundation Medal</a>for an“<em>extraordinary contribution to Wesley College, to society in general or both</em>”.</p><p>From 2014-15 I was President of the ISSS (<a href="http://www.isss.org" rel="nofollow">International Society for the Systems Sciences</a>); in 2016 I was elected as a Vice President of the<a href="http://www.ifsr.org/" rel="nofollow">International Federation for Systems Research</a>(IFSR). I am also a Director of the<a href="http://wosc.co/" rel="nofollow">World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics</a>(WOSC), and Chair of Trustees of the<a href="http://www.asc-cybernetics.org/" rel="nofollow">American Society of Cybernetics</a>as well as a member of the<a href="http://www.ukss.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">UKSS</a>. </p><p>In 2008 I moved from a full-time to a fractional appointment at the Open University. In the other fraction I was from 2008-15 Professor, Systems for Sustainability at the<a href="http://monash.edu/sustainability-institute/" rel="nofollow">Monash Sustainability Institute</a>(MSI), Monash University, Melbourne, where I founded and led the<a href="http://monash.edu/sustainability-institute/programs-initiatives/systemic-governance-research/" rel="nofollow">Systemic Governance Research Program</a>. </p><p>In addition to my continuing OU responsibilities I have from 2016 managed an additional portfolio of research, scholarship and consulting activities mainly in Australia, South Africa and China. I also have appointments as an Adjunct Professor,<a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/institute-sustainable-futures" rel="nofollow">Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology</a>, Sydney; as a Director, Systemic Development Institute (Australia) and as a<a href="http://cpd.org.au/about/fellows/" rel="nofollow">Fellow, Centre for Policy Development</a>(Australia).</p>
Professor Ray Ison
Ison
Ison
Ray
Raymond
R.
R. L.
R.L.
Ray L.
Raymond I.
Raymond L.
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Raymond
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Professor Ray Ison
Ray Ison
R. Ison
R. L. Ison
R.L. Ison
Ray L. Ison
Raymond I. Ison
Raymond Ison
Raymond L. Ison
R. L. Ison
Raymond Ison
<p>Appointed Professor of Systems at the Open University in 1994, my research and scholarship spans the biophysical and social and is primarily interdisciplinary and collaborative. At the Open University I have had periods as head of the former Systems Department (1995-8; 2005-6; 25 academic staff), Director of the Environmental Decision Making Program, and am now involved in: (i) managing and presenting the post-graduate program in<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/ou/systemsthinking">Systems Thinking in Practice (STiP)</a> and undertaking associated<a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/2/2/119" rel="nofollow">Systems scholarship</a>; (ii) contributing to the activities of the<a href="http://www9.open.ac.uk/mct-ei/research/applied-systems-thinking-practice">Applied Systems Thinking in Practice (ASTiP) Group</a>, including leading an initiative to create a LEVEL 7 (Masters) Apprenticeship for the Systems Thinking Practitioner based on the<a href="https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships" rel="nofollow">UK Apprenticeship Levy</a>and (iii) undertaking international research. </p><p><strong><em>2017 highlights:</em></strong></p><ul><li><p>Appointed Member of the Scientific Council of the Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science (BCSSS), an Austrian independent research institute, internationally acknowledged as an ambassador for the systems science heritage and present state-of-the-art of applied systems research<a href="http://www.bcsss.org/the-center/scientific-council/">http://www.bcsss.org/the-center/scientific-council/</a></p></li><li>ASTiP research was showcased in a day symposium held at the Open University (Walton Hall) under the sponsorship of the<a href="http://www.open.ac.uk/research/themes/citizenship-governance">Citizenship and Governance Strategic Research Initiative</a>. The f<a href="http://podcast.open.ac.uk/pod/governance-20170515">ull suite of presentations are available to view here.</a></li><li>The<a href="http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9781447173502" rel="nofollow">second edition of my book'Systems Practice</a>' was published in September 2017.</li></ul><p><img alt="" src="/people/sites/www.open.ac.uk.people/files/images/Ison2017.jpg" style="height:216px; width:144px" /></p><ul><li>My<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj6MR9IFedI&feature=share" rel="nofollow">Keynote presentation to WOSC 2017</a>(World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics) in January in Rome is available on-line. </li><li>A free course using our ASTiP resources called'<a href="http://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/mastering-systems-thinking-practice/content-section-overview">Mastering Systems Practice</a>' is now available on OpenLearn.</li></ul><p><em><strong>Earlier highlights:</strong></em></p><p>In 2016 I was appointed an<a href="http://www.iascys.org/" rel="nofollow">Academician of IASCYS</a>(International Academy of Systems and Cybernetic Sciences) in‘<em>recognition of outstanding contributions to research and practice in systems and cybernetic sciences’</em>. In the same year Wesley College (University of Sydney) awarded me its<a href="http://www.wesleycollege-usyd.edu.au/event/foundation-medal-dinner/" rel="nofollow">Foundation Medal</a>for an“<em>extraordinary contribution to Wesley College, to society in general or both</em>”.</p><p>From 2014-15 I was President of the ISSS (<a href="http://www.isss.org" rel="nofollow">International Society for the Systems Sciences</a>); in 2016 I was elected as a Vice President of the<a href="http://www.ifsr.org/" rel="nofollow">International Federation for Systems Research</a>(IFSR). I am also a Director of the<a href="http://wosc.co/" rel="nofollow">World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics</a>(WOSC), and Chair of Trustees of the<a href="http://www.asc-cybernetics.org/" rel="nofollow">American Society of Cybernetics</a>as well as a member of the<a href="http://www.ukss.org.uk/" rel="nofollow">UKSS</a>. </p><p>In 2008 I moved from a full-time to a fractional appointment at the Open University. In the other fraction I was from 2008-15 Professor, Systems for Sustainability at the<a href="http://monash.edu/sustainability-institute/" rel="nofollow">Monash Sustainability Institute</a>(MSI), Monash University, Melbourne, where I founded and led the<a href="http://monash.edu/sustainability-institute/programs-initiatives/systemic-governance-research/" rel="nofollow">Systemic Governance Research Program</a>. </p><p>In addition to my continuing OU responsibilities I have from 2016 managed an additional portfolio of research, scholarship and consulting activities mainly in Australia, South Africa and China. I also have appointments as an Adjunct Professor,<a href="https://www.uts.edu.au/research-and-teaching/our-research/institute-sustainable-futures" rel="nofollow">Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology</a>, Sydney; as a Director, Systemic Development Institute (Australia) and as a<a href="http://cpd.org.au/about/fellows/" rel="nofollow">Fellow, Centre for Policy Development</a>(Australia).</p>