Scientists in Open Space

Robyn Williams pov at iinet.net.au
Thu Aug 5 20:08:20 PDT 2010


Hi

 

Last night I was speaking with a good friend - a soil scientist - who is
attending and presenting at a 4 day international conference with 1,800
others in his field. This conference only happens once every 4 years! He
reported the presentations range in quality; while some were brilliant and
interesting, some were not up to scratch for such a salubrious event. No
workshops to speak of and 'working groups' are exclusive. His experience of
trying to connect with relevant colleagues has been 'needle in a hay-stack'
stuff, frustrating and stressful. He's wondering if it was worth it. We
discussed the wasted opportunity of so many specialists getting together
with so little time to actually confer (why call them conferences?). 

 

One of the conundrums is that funded attendance can be contingent on
'presenting a paper', especially for academics for whom it is a measure of
performance. I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with overcoming
this barrier while preserving the 'trial by peers' opportunity. Even so, it
sounds like a proportion of the papers could be trimmed to preserve the
quality, and space opened to enable a fuller exposition, exchange and
greater shared learning. No news to this list of course, just re-iterates
what we know - sigh.

 

So thanks for your pertinent and timely experiences. I've forwarded this
thread to my friend to inform his evaluation. You never know, it might find
its way to the organisers.

 

 

best wishes, Robyn 

Persistence of Vision

Fremantle, Western Australia

 

M: +61 (0)424 587 262

P: +61 (0)8 9331 8642

Skype: robyn.williams16

 

 

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Suzanne
Daigle
Sent: Friday, 6 August 2010 10:05 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: [OSLIST] Scientists in Open Space

 

Oh everyone, this has been such a delight!  I will not be demure or
reserved. I just simply have to say how much I love and appreciate this
community.  Each morsel of advice I will treasure and re-read knowing that
"whatever happens happens" which I really already knew but to be reminded of
it here and to hear about your experiences, tips, tools and insights, well
what a gift.  Thank you not just for me but most especially for this group
of scientists and others who I hope will soon meet in Open Space to engage
and connect on their passion and what brought them to science in the first
place: to create, discover and make a difference!  

And yes Andrew (and everyone else), yes indeed it all helps!  Suzanne




On Thu, Aug 5, 2010 at 6:07 PM, Andrew Rixon <andrew at babelfishgroup.com>
wrote:

Hi Suzanne,

 

With scientists being such creative people, I've found that they really get
into Open Space...

 

Here's one article I've written describing more about one experience...

 

http://www.babelfishgroup.com/files/Measuring%20a%20successful%20meeting.pdf


 

And... In terms of hurdles and client/sponsor trepidation... Here's a little
tool that was topped off with a great discussion with Viv McWaters...

 

It provides an entry point into some different conversations...

 

http://www.babelfishgroup.com/blog/?p=254 

 

Hope this helps!


Warm regards,
Andrew

 

--
Andrew Rixon PhD
Director
Babel Fish Group Pty Ltd 
Skype: AndrewJRixon 
Mobile: 0400 352 809 
Fax: (03) 8610 0162 
Email:  <mailto:andrew at babelfishgroup.com> andrew at babelfishgroup.com 
URL:  <http://www.babelfishgroup.com/> http://www.babelfishgroup.com/ 

Interested in Story? Join us for the next
<http://www.babelfishgroup.com/CelebratingStoryConference> "Celebrating
Story: Bringing People and Work to Life" conference. Oct 7th and 8th. 

 

From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Suzanne
Daigle
Sent: Friday, 6 August 2010 3:42 AM


To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU

Subject: [OSLIST] Scientists in Open Space

 

Hi everyone!

 

Over the past few months I have been working with a Sponsor connected with
international scientists. She is passionate about inviting people to have
new conversations around how we "do" science; how science is funded; the
future of science and education; and the emerging trends leading into the
next era of science. The goal is to experientially engage  a highly diverse
group of participants (scientists, policy makers and change agents) in ways
that  invite self-organization, collaboration and shared leadership - as
opposed to how people interact in your typical conference.  Nationally and
internationally, science faces many urgent challenges not unlike the system
breakdowns that we see in so many areas. Certainly there is a sense that the
basic ingredients for an Open Space are there not the least of which real
issues of concerns, high levels of complexity, diverse groups, great
urgency.  That said, the Sponsor feels a certain degree of trepidation about
how independent-minded, self-directed scientists might respond to Open
Space. Not a new question for any of us I know. 

 

It would be helpful if you could share any experiences you've had working
with Scientists, globally or nationally.   

Which sectors?  Themes? Context?  Hurdles? How did it go overall? 

 

Any and all insights appreciated. Will send you buckets of smiles and
sunshine from Florida in return. 

 

Suzanne



-- 
Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;  
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com

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-- 
Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;  
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
* * ==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist 


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