Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

2008/09/04 Visiting researchers in syntegration at U. Hull

As a visiting fellow to the University of Hull Centre for Systems Studies, I come to the area once or twice each year.  This time, Allenna arrived amongst the confluence of visiting systems scientists, and offered to share the experience with of a mini-syntegration.  The university has had some renovations since the last time I was there, with a new plaza completed just before fall term started.

di_20080904-045810-uhull-plaza-building

Amongst the more traditional brick buildings, I noticed the modernity of the Enterprise Centre.

di_20080904-050000-uhull-enterprisecentre

I liked the curve in the Wiske building (where humanities classes are taught) on the way to the Hull University Business School.

di_20080904-050022-uhull-wiske

Since classes had not yet begun, the undergraduate reception desk in the business school was still closed.

di_20080904-050118-hubs-undergrad-reception

The business school moved into this new complex of renovated buildings in 2005.  The offices show more of the original features. while the interconnecting hallways between buildings are completely modern.

di_20080904-050124-hubs-hallway

Here’s what learning looks like for senior academics.  Based on a triggering question, we jotted ideas down on post-it notes.  Jim, Angela and Allenna were looking at ways of clustering the ideas.

di_20080904-082756-hubs-syntegration-post-its-kk-ae-al

Todd and Thomas took some clusters of ideas, and fleshed them out more on flip charts.

di_20080904-085318-hubs-syntegration-flipcharts-tb-tw

A syntegration includes time for discussion and reflection.  Allenna facilitated the conversation, marking up notes as the group converged.

di_20080904-101722-hubs-syntegration

As a customary way of showing appreciation for hospitality when I travel, I often prepare dinner in the kitchens of my hosts.  Jennifer mentioned that Chong Wah has a wide variety of Chinese ingredients.

di_20080904-120314-hull-chongwah

In the entry to the store, Chinese signs are not a surprise.  The large stone ball spinning on a water fountain is a special touch.

di_20080904-120324-hull-chongwah-entry

I was happy to find a good selection of Chinese vegetables that would be difficult to find in UK supermarkets oriented towards westerners.

di_20080904-122144-hull-chongwah-veg

I was also glad to see familiar brands on sauces and canned goods, that are otherwise heavy to bring in my suitcase.

di_20080904-122154-hull-chongwah-shelves

I take requests and dietary preferences as a special challenge.  This time, some vegetarian dishes were in order.

di_20080904-152254-pocklington-dinner

The life of an itinerary scholar combines lifelong learning with social broadening.  I always look forward to share with my friends and colleague in the UK (as well as those from other places in the world who happen to convene in opportune places).

[Start a large-image lightbox screen show]

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • RSS on Coevolving

  • RSS on Media Queue

    • What to Do When It’s Too Late | David L. Hawk | 2024
      David L. Hawk (American management theorist, architect, and systems scientist) has been hosting a weekly television show broadcast on Bold Brave Tv from the New York area on Wednesdays 6pm ET, remotely from his home in Iowa. Live, callers can join…Read more ›
    • 2021/06/17 Keekok Lee | Philosophy of Chinese Medicine 2
      Following the first day lecture on Philosophy of Chinese Medicine 1 for the Global University for Sustainability, Keekok Lee continued on a second day on some topics: * Anatomy as structure; physiology as function (and process); * Process ontology, and thing ontology; * Qi ju as qi-in-concentrating mode, and qi san as qi-in-dissipsating mode; and […]
    • 2021/06/16 Keekok Lee | Philosophy of Chinese Medicine 1
      The philosophy of science underlying Classical Chinese Medicine, in this lecture by Keekok Lee, provides insights into ways in which systems change may be approached, in a process ontology in contrast to the thing ontology underlying Western BioMedicine. Read more ›
    • 2021/02/02 To Understand This Era, You Need to Think in Systems | Zeynep Tufekci with Ezra Klein | New York Times
      In conversation, @zeynep with @ezraklein reveal authentic #SystemsThinking in (i) appreciating that “science” is constructed by human collectives, (ii) the west orients towards individual outcomes rather than population levels; and (iii) there’s an over-emphasis on problems of the moment, and…Read more ›
    • 2019/04/09 Art as a discipline of inquiry | Tim Ingold (web video)
      In the question-answer period after the lecture, #TimIngold proposes art as a discipline of inquiry, rather than ethnography. This refers to his thinking On Human Correspondence. — begin paste — [75m26s question] I am curious to know what art, or…Read more ›
    • 2019/10/16 | “Bubbles, Golden Ages, and Tech Revolutions” | Carlota Perez
      How might our society show value for the long term, over the short term? Could we think about taxation over time, asks @carlotaprzperez in an interview: 92% for 1 day; 80% within 1 month; 50%-60% tax for 1 year; zero tax for 10 years.Read more ›
  • RSS on Ing Brief

    • Introduction, “Systems Thinking: Selected Readings, volume 2”, edited by F. E. Emery (1981)
      The selection of readings in the “Introduction” to Systems Thinking: Selected Readings, volume 2, Penguin (1981), edited by Fred E. Emery, reflects a turn from 1969 when a general systems theory was more fully entertained, towards an urgency towards changes in the world that were present in 1981. Systems thinking was again emphasized in contrast […]
    • Introduction, “Systems Thinking: Selected Readings”, edited by F. E. Emery (1969)
      In reviewing the original introduction for Systems Thinking: Selected Readings in the 1969 Penguin paperback, there’s a few threads that I only recognize, many years later. The tables of contents (disambiguating various editions) were previously listed as 1969, 1981 Emery, System Thinking: Selected Readings. — begin paste — Introduction In the selection of papers for this […]
    • Concerns with the way systems thinking is used in evaluation | Michael C. Jackson, OBE | 2023-02-27
      In a recording of the debate between Michael Quinn Patton and Michael C. Jackson on “Systems Concepts in Evaluation”, Patton referenced four concepts published in the “Principles for effective use of systems thinking in evaluation” (2018) by the Systems in Evaluation Topical Interest Group (SETIG) of the American Evaluation Society. The four concepts are: (i) […]
    • Quality Criteria for Action Research | Herr, Anderson (2015)
      How might the quality of an action research initiative be evaluated? — begin paste — We have linked our five validity criteria (outcome, process, democratic, catalytic, and dialogic) to the goals of action research. Most traditions of action research agree on the following goals: (a) the generation of new knowledge, (b) the achievement of action-oriented […]
    • Western Union and the canton of Ticino, Switzerland
      After 90 minutes on phone and online chat with WesternUnion, the existence of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland is denied, so I can’t send money from Canada. TicinoTurismo should be unhappy. The IT developers at Western Union should be dissatisfied that customer support agents aren’t sending them legitimate bug reports I initially tried the […]
    • Aesthetics | Encyclopaedia Britannica | 15 edition
      Stephen C. Pepper was a contributor to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, on the entry for Aesthetics.
  • Meta

  • Translate

  • Creative Commons License
    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
    Theme modified from DevDmBootstrap4 by Danny Machal