The 2018 Systems Thinking Symposium focuses on the application of systems thinking to a wide array of critical challenges facing national and statewide policy makers and water professionals. It highlights critical issues related to water, presenting the USDA-funded ThinkWater initiative as a model for addressing issues vital to our national interest.

ThinkWater organizes programs to enhance education, research, and outreach in the water realm, broadly defined. It does so through the application of accessible and efficient methods of teaching systems thinking. This year’s symposium will feature presentations on program development and delivery, highlighting two ThinkWater initiatives—the Wisconsin state implementation and the 2017 national fellowship. These and previous initiatives in secondary education and advanced research will be discussed in terms of ThinkWater’s mission and vision to engage, educate, and empower a world of systems thinkers to solve wicked water problems.

The ThinkWater example will be used to frame discussions of the possibilities and promise of more accessible ways of learning and applying systems thinking to the full array of complex problems we face.

Details and registration are at: https://www.thinkxsymposium.com/