Special double issue: systems and cybernetics: new theories and applications – Part I

Citation

Lin, Y. (2002), "Special double issue: systems and cybernetics: new theories and applications – Part I", Kybernetes, Vol. 31 No. 9/10. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2002.06731iaa.001

Special double issue: systems and cybernetics: new theories and applications – Part I

Special double issue: systems and cybernetics: new theories and applications – Part I

Guest Editor: Yi Lin

This Special Double Issue contains selected papers from the 12th International Congress of the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC) held jointly with the 4th Workshop of the International Institute of General Systems Studies (IIGSS). The Co-Chairs of the conference and workshop were Professor Robert Valleé, the Director-General of WOSC, and Professor Yi Lin, the President of IIGSS. It is fitting that Kybernetes the officially chosen publication of WOSC should be invited to publish selected contributions and, in particular, the winners of the Kybernetes Research Award, which was sponsored by the journal's publisher, Emerald. We are also pleased to include in this selection of contributions some of the papers that were “highly commended” by the judging panel for this award. We are grateful to Dr. Yi Lin for accepting our invitation to be the Guest Editor of this specially compiled collection of papers, that were presented at the congress and workshop. Some 59 papers have been selected, refereed and edited to present the new theories and applications in systems and cybernetics that have emerged from the presentations and discussions that contributed to the success of the endeavor. Reports of the congress and workshop have already appeared in Kybernetes Volume 31 Nos 7 and 8, 2002 together with full details of the awards presented. We are pleased, however, to include here a summary of the highlights of the occasion which in itself also serves to provide the scenario for the contributions that have been selected for publication. Professor Robert Valleé in his summarized report writes that:

The 12th International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems of the WOSC and the 4th IIGSS Workshop were held, as a joint event, in Pittsburgh, Pensylvania, from 23 to 26 March, 2002 at Sheraton Station Square Hotel. The honorary chair was Professor Stafford Beer, President of WOSC, who unfortunately was not able to come, and the two Co-Chairs were Professor Yi Lin, President of IIGSS and Professor Robert Valleé, Director-General of WOSC. Other officers of WOSC who could not come, despite their former intentions, were Professor J. Rose, Honorary Director and founder of WOSC and Professor Brian H. Rudall, Director of the Norbert Wiener Institute of WOSC.

After the welcome reception, on Saturday evening, the Conference opened on Sunday morning by an address followed by a plenary lecture on Cybernetics and Systems from Past to Future by R. Valleé. There were about 90 participants, coming from the Americas (mainly USA and also Colombia, Venezuela…), from Europe (UK, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania…), from Russia, from the Far East (an important delegation from China…). The Symposia were devoted to: Systemic and Cybernetics Oriented Learning Experiences (Angela Espinosa), Reconstructability Analysis (Martin Zwick), Reconstructability, Instant Modeling and Data-Knowledge Analysis (Guangfu Shu), Creative Development and Processes, Systemic Approach to Health and Aging (Hector Sa belli), Control Theory and Engineering (Zdzislaw Bubnicki), Grey Systems : Theory and Applications (Julong Deng, Sifeng Liu), Grey Systems : Methodology and Applications (Mian-Yu Chen), Pan Systems Theory and Technology (Leon Feng, Xuemou Wu), New Theories about Space-Time (Leon Feng), Systems-Specific Technology and Balascopy-Based General Systems Theory (Vadim I. Kvitash).

On Sunday there were two other plenary lectures : The “Roundtable” for School Learning and Planning Groups : Planting a Seed for Systemic Renewal by Susan Farr Gabriele and “Reconstructability Analysis. An Overview” by Martin Zwick. On Monday the plenary lecture was about “The Bridge to Humanity’s Future” by Willard R. Fey and Ann C. W. Lam. The last plenary lecture was delivered on Tuesday by Vadim. I. Kvitash on “Relonics : Balascopy Based Systems-Specific Technology”.

On Monday an hour was devoted to the presentation of awards by the two representatives of WOSC : Robert Valleé, Director General and Dr. Alex Andrew, Director for International Affairs. The first awards were two Honorary Fellowships of WOSC (already 37 such fellowships have been attributed). One for Professor Acad. Zdzislaw Bubnicki, Technical University of Wroclaw (Poland), for his renowned works on the theory of systems, the creation of the journal Systems Science and the organization of a long series of International congresses on systems held in Poland, UK and USA. The other Honorary Fellowship was given to Professor Yi Lin, Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania), President and founder of IIGSS, for his excellent researches on systems science and the organization IIGSS Workshops. The four other awards were offered by Emerald, publishers of Kybernetes, WOSC official journal (Editor-in-Chief: Brian H. Rudall). The Kybernetes Research Award was presented to M. Nemiche and Rafael Pla- Lopez (Department of Applied Mathematics, Universitat de València, Spain) for their communication on “A Learning Model for the Dual Evolution of Human Social Behaviors”. They will receive a check of £ 300 and a 1 year subscription to Kybernetes. The three Highly Commended Awards were given to:

Willard R. Fey and Ann C. W. Lam for (Ecocosm Dynamics Ltd, USA) for “The Bridge to Humanity’s Future Test of Multimedia Address”. Sifeng Liu (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China), Yi Lin (Mathematics Department, Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania), Yaguo Dang and Bingjun Li (Institute of Management Science, Henan Agricultural University, China) for “The Technical Change and the Funds for Science and Technology”, Gary P. Shaffer (Department of Biological Sciences, Saint Louis University, Louisiana) for “Simulating Ecosytem Dynamics by Isolating Events Comprised of only a Few Variables. Needs for a K-Systems Granulation Methodology”.

Proceedings containing the abstracts of the communications were distributed at the beginning of the Conference. Selected complete papers will be published in Kybernetes.

The convenors of the congress symposia are also engaged in preparing special features and issues for inclusion with our regular journal sections – for publication in the coming Volume 32. In particular the subjects of current interest in the systems and cybernetics fields: “Reconstructability Analysis” “Some New Theories about Space-Time” and “Grey Systems Theory, Methodology and Applications” are being scheduled as special issue topics in this volume. In addition, Volume 32 will also have a special double issue devoted to “Artificial Life” that will include contributions from some of the leading researchers in this field.

Part II of this specially selected collection of papers will be published in Kybernetes Vol. 32, Nos 5/6, 2003. The titles of these papers are listed in the contents pages and the abstracts are also included in this issue.

The selected contributions collected here from the prestigious WOSC and IIGSS Congress and Workshop confirm the importance of the role of cybernetics and systems in both research and development worldwide by introducing new theories and applications that once again illustrate the essential interdisciplinary nature of our studies.

Brian H. RudallEditor-in-Chief