Community Based System Dynamics Institute Washington University in St. Louis June 16-‐18, 2015 Photograph taken by Peter Hovmand at final presentations in Chirkorapalli village, Winter Institute 2015 Community Based System Dynamics (CBSD) is a participatory method for engaging and working with communities and organizations developed from group model building and system dynamics. CBSD is now being used around the world in both research and practice to engage diverse communities and organizations to address a variety of complex issues from engaging middle and high school students to address education issues, working with cancer survivors to reduce treatment delays, to working with rural villages to identify sustainable livelihood strategies. This 3-‐day institute led by Peter Hovmand, PhD provides a unique opportunity to get a formal introduction to CBSD, observe CBSD in action with the parallel Changing Systems Youth Summit, and design and receive feedback on CBSD workshops. Participants will gain: • Knowledge of basic concepts in CBSD and systems thinking • Skills on identifying and selecting issues for CBSD, assessing readiness, convening a core modeling team, workshop design and facilitation, and how to frame CBSD within grant proposals • Experience designing and facilitating “scripted” group model building exercises No prior training or experience in group facilitation, group model building, or system dynamics is required. However, participants currently working with or planning work with groups (e.g., classrooms, community meetings, focus groups, committees and workgroups) will find the content more relevant. Approximately 15 CBSD Institute Fellows will be selected based on applications (see next page). Community Based System Dynamics Institute Fellowship Application Washington University in St. Louis – June 16-‐18, 2015 The CBSD Institute will run from June 16-‐18 from 9 am to 4 pm each day with lunch and snacks provided. Please complete and send the application including a current resume or CV to Nancy Zoellner at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed in an ongoing fashion, selected participants will be notified and must formally accept the CBSD Institute Fellowship and make their own accommodations for travel and lodging if necessary. For information, please contact Nancy Zoellner at [email protected] or by phone at 314 935 3598. Please take a few minutes and answer the following questions in the space provided. 1. What is your professional background (e.g., teachers, social worker, community organizer, academic researcher)? 2. What kind of experience do you have in facilitating small groups (e.g., teaching in a classroom, conducting workshops, leading a discussion group)? 3. What exposure or prior training have you had to systems thinking, system dynamics, or more broadly systems science? 4. What do you hope to gain from the CBSD institute? 5. How do you plan to apply CBSD in the future? Please return the completed application along with a resume/CV to Nancy Zoellner at [email protected] .