SYMBOLS, SYSTEMS, SCIENCE & SURVIVAL : A PRESENTATION OF THE SYSTEMS APPROACH FROM A TEILHARDIAN PERSPECTIVE, by R. Wayne Kraft. Vantage Press, New York, 1975.

The knowledge of unsustainable human and Earth system interactions is widespread, especially in light of systemic environmental injustices. Systems science has enabled complex and rigorous understandings of human and Earth system dynamics, particularly relating to pollution of Earth’s land, water, air, and organisms. Given that many of these systems are not functioning sustainably or optimally, how might this field enable both rigorous understanding of the issues and experiments aimed at alternative outcomes? Here, we put forth a novel, multiscale systems science approach with three steps: (1) understanding the systemic issues at hand, (2) identifying systemic interventions, and (3) applying experiments to study the efficacy of such interventions. We illustrate this framework through the ubiquitous and yet frequently underrecognized issue of soil lead (Pb). First, we describe the systemic interactions of humans and soil Pb at micro-, meso-, and macroscales in time and space. We then discuss interventions for mitigating soil Pb exposure at each scale. Finally, we provide examples of applied and participatory experiments to mitigate exposure at different scales currently being conducted in New York City, NY, USA. We put forth this framework to be flexibly applied to contamination issues in other regions and to other pressing environmental issues of our time.

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COVID-19 and future pandemics: a global systems approach and relevance to SDGs

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00711-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tharanga Thoradeniya ◽

Saroj Jayasinghe

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Global Governance ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Rna Virus ◽

Modern Human ◽

Systems Science ◽

World Population ◽

Ecological Processes ◽

Physical Environments ◽

Corporate Interests

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely impacting modern human civilization. A global view using a systems science approach is necessary to recognize the close interactions between health of animals, humans and the environment. Discussion A model is developed initially by describing five sequential or parallel steps on how a RNA virus emerged from animals and became a pandemic: 1. Origins in the animal kingdom; 2. Transmission to domesticated animals; 3. Inter-species transmission to humans; 4. Local epidemics; 5. Global spread towards a pandemic. The next stage identifies global level determinants from the physical environments, the biosphere and social environment that influence these steps to derive a generic conceptual model. It identifies that future pandemics are likely to emerge from ecological processes (climate change, loss of biodiversity), anthropogenic social processes (i.e. corporate interests, culture and globalization) and world population growth. Intervention would therefore require modifications or dampening these generators and prevent future periodic pandemics that would reverse human development. Addressing issues such as poorly planned urbanization, climate change and deforestation coincide with SDGs such as sustainable cities and communities (Goal 11), climate action (Goal 13) and preserving forests and other ecosystems (Goal 15). This will be an added justification to address them as global priorities. Some determinants in the model are poorly addressed by SDGs such as the case of population pressures, cultural factors, corporate interests and globalization. The overarching process of globalization will require modifications to the structures, processes and mechanisms of global governance. The defects in global governance are arguably due to historical reasons and the neo-liberal capitalist order. This became evident especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 when the vaccination roll-out led to violations of universal values of equity and right to life by some of the powerful and affluent nations. Summary A systems approach leads us to a model that shows the need to tackle several factors, some of which are not adequately addressed by SDGs and require restructuring of global governance and political economy.

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Systems science. addressing global issues f. a. stowel west, daune west and j. g. howell (editors). plenum press, new york and london, 1993, 659 pp

Systems Research ◽

10.1002/sres.3850110308 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 105-107

Author(s):

John P. Van Gigch

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Systems Science ◽

Global Issues

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A New Role of Systems Science Informed Systems Approach

Studies in Computational Intelligence - Creative Space ◽

10.1007/11508083_6 ◽

2005 ◽

pp. 161-215

Author(s):

Andrzej P. Wierzbicki ◽

Yoshiteru Nakamori

Keyword(s):

Systems Approach ◽

Systems Science

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OLDER ADULT FALLS PREVENTION: THREE ADOPTED CLINICAL STRATEGIES FROM EVALUATION OF THE CDC STEADI INITIATIVE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2096 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S567-S567 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer Edwards ◽

Brittany Bickford ◽

Yvonne Johnston ◽

Aaron Alford

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

New York ◽

Tai Chi ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Health Department ◽

Falls Prevention ◽

Public Service Announcement ◽

Home Setting ◽

National Network ◽

Patients At Risk

Abstract This evaluation examines patients’ barriers and facilitators to adopting an evidence-based fall prevention strategy. Twenty-one patients were telephone interviewed. The purposive sample includes patients over age 65, screened as at risk for falls, and who received a referral for falls risk intervention. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative analysis of interview transcripts: 1. Behavioral Facilitators, 2. Personal Fall Experiences, 3. Informed Decision-making, 4. Providers, 5. Friends and Family, 6. Home Setting Facilitators, and 7. Risk Perception. Three opportunities were identified: 1. Develop an outpatient follow-up protocol, 2. Develop a falls screening public service announcement, and 3. Partner with the local Office for Aging to connect patients at risk with community programs such as Tai Chi. A systems approach involving the CDC, National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), Broome County Health Department, and an Upstate New York hospital system’s outpatient practices was vital for the success of this evaluation.

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Systems Thinking

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198733522.013.24 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Sytse Strijbos

Keyword(s):

Systems Thinking ◽

Systems Approach ◽

P Systems ◽

Systems Science ◽

Modern World ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Scientific Program ◽

World Picture ◽

Recent Developments ◽

History Of

Systems thinking was launched by Ludwig von Bertalanffy and others in the 1950s as an interdisciplinary movement with a broad and bold scientific program. The movement attempts to overcome the dominating mechanistic world picture and related reductionism in the sciences which is regarded as one of the main causes of the problems of the modern world. This chapter discusses the sixty-year history of systems thinking and sketches some main lines of its three domains: systems science, systems approach in technology and management, and systems philosophy. This interdisciplinary movement has stimulated fruitful theory formation in the first mentioned domain, although it has not succeeded in achieving its original far-reaching goals. Furthermore, integrative, interdisciplinary systems approaches in technology and management have become well accepted. Finally, recent developments signal a return to the intellectual-spiritual roots of the systems movement aiming for a renewal of its scientific agenda.

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