The SDPS 2012 conference in Berlin, Germany, focuses on transformational engineering, science, business, and education while addressing both the research and practice of a "better environment, life, and future possibilities for humanity."

Institutions within Germany use a very special term to define a holistic approach to competency through direct involvement: handlungskompetenz--participatory design and construction of socio-technical systems. Since its inception SDPS has held as a value the connection between knowing and doing as we examine the difficult unstructured problems of the day. It is therefore fitting that SDPS 2012 seeks participation and original case studies, research papers and presenters interested to create a dialog and an open space for collaboration toward the "civilizing effect of science" (Dr. Steven Weinberg), "the transformation of existing situations into preferred situations" (Dr. Herbert Simon) and "innovation, creativity and capital" (Dr. George Kozmetsky).

Nature, society, culture, technology and individual behavior are aspects of the advanced and complex engineering design landscape. As we move beyond the classic mechanistic and computational models of the past, relationships among systems of knowledge and action give rise to new possibilities for the future including new modes of inquiry, practice, communication and collaboration.

Opportunities and challenges of the future will be addressed through innovation and technology that stem from complex systems of actors, knowledge and technical infrastructure. Design involves the designer, the environments in which the system resides throughout its life cycle and the participant (or "end user").

A diverse group of technologies has emerged from the scientific study of complex systems. Engineers, scientists and technicians are rapidly adapting these discoveries to push the boundaries of design beyond anything imagined only a few decades ago. iPhones, smart grids, robotics, knowledge systems, cyber-physical systems, cognitive computing, energy clouds, and complex systems are now generating their own form of complexity as they enter service within natural, environmental, and human domains. These considerations must be included in the future design of transformational complex systems and processes.

Please join us at SDPS 2012 in beautiful city of Berlin, Germany for relevant and timely discourse about systems, technology, society and innovation. This year's conference promises to bring the latest theories, technologies, and approaches from the forefront of complex system research and real world "hands-on" practice.

We welcome proposals for workshops and special sessions. Please submit your ideas to one of these contacts on or before December 9th :

Dr. Bernd Kramer: Bernd.Kraemer@FernUni-Hagen.de
Dr. Murat Tanik: mtanik@uab.edu.

Call for papers: http://www.sdpsnet.org/sdps/index.php/conferences/sdps-2012

Important Dates: