Conversation as Process and Connection
Hosted by
Systems Thinking Ontario
Online
Link available to attendees
We missed you this time around!
In an era dominated by communication technologies, in which ways do we (or don't we) experience meaningful contact with other people?
Bela H. Banathy developed a Conversation methodology as a process of deep learning that is both generative and strategic. These systems inquiries involve a multidisciplinary practice beginning with months of preparation, leading to a five-day immersive event, followed by cocreation of proceedings reflecting on the experience. The learning becomes a resource for continuing dialogue, and an impetus for subsequent initiatives.
Conversations were conducted by the International Federation for Systems Research from 1982 to 2016 in Austria. Most recently, Banathy Conversations were restarted by the CSRP Institute in Lugano in fall 2024, and in Iowa in spring 2025. Plans are underway for a Conversation event hosted by the sLab at OCADU in May 2026.
Session Leaders
Gary S. Metcalf led facilitation of many of the Conversations for the IFSR, and for the CSRP Institute. His PhD in Organizational Systems was conferred by Saybrook University, under the supervision of Bela H. Banathy. He served as the president of the International Federation for Systems Research (2010-2016), and the International Society for the Systems Sciences (2007-2008). He has been an instructor of Saybrook University, the Federal Executive Institute, and Aalto University.
David Ing was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in Graduate Studies at OCAD University, and has been collaborating on invigoration of the sLab. He served as president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (2011-2012). He graduated from IBM after 28 years of service.
Registration
This session will be conducted over Zoom. Pre-register with your name and email address.
Feb 9, 2026 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7szz8GQBRMKpb-cvGab4GA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The full announcement with pre-readings is at https://wiki.st-on.org/2026-02-09
Platform Sponsors
Don't let broken lines of code, busted API calls, and crashes ruin your app. Join the 4M developers and 90K organizations who consider Sentry “not bad” when it comes to application monitoring. Use code “guild” for 3 free months of the team plan.
https://sentry.io
Torc is a community-first platform bringing together remote-first software engineer and developer opportunities from across the globe. Join a network that’s all about connection, collaboration, and finding your next big move — together.
Join our community today!
We missed you this time around!
Platform Sponsors
Don't let broken lines of code, busted API calls, and crashes ruin your app. Join the 4M developers and 90K organizations who consider Sentry “not bad” when it comes to application monitoring. Use code “guild” for 3 free months of the team plan.
https://sentry.io
Torc is a community-first platform bringing together remote-first software engineer and developer opportunities from across the globe. Join a network that’s all about connection, collaboration, and finding your next big move — together.
Join our community today!
Conversation as Process and Connection
Hosted by
Systems Thinking Ontario
Online
Link available to attendees
In an era dominated by communication technologies, in which ways do we (or don't we) experience meaningful contact with other people?
Bela H. Banathy developed a Conversation methodology as a process of deep learning that is both generative and strategic. These systems inquiries involve a multidisciplinary practice beginning with months of preparation, leading to a five-day immersive event, followed by cocreation of proceedings reflecting on the experience. The learning becomes a resource for continuing dialogue, and an impetus for subsequent initiatives.
Conversations were conducted by the International Federation for Systems Research from 1982 to 2016 in Austria. Most recently, Banathy Conversations were restarted by the CSRP Institute in Lugano in fall 2024, and in Iowa in spring 2025. Plans are underway for a Conversation event hosted by the sLab at OCADU in May 2026.
Session Leaders
Gary S. Metcalf led facilitation of many of the Conversations for the IFSR, and for the CSRP Institute. His PhD in Organizational Systems was conferred by Saybrook University, under the supervision of Bela H. Banathy. He served as the president of the International Federation for Systems Research (2010-2016), and the International Society for the Systems Sciences (2007-2008). He has been an instructor of Saybrook University, the Federal Executive Institute, and Aalto University.
David Ing was appointed as an Adjunct Professor in Graduate Studies at OCAD University, and has been collaborating on invigoration of the sLab. He served as president of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (2011-2012). He graduated from IBM after 28 years of service.
Registration
This session will be conducted over Zoom. Pre-register with your name and email address.
Feb 9, 2026 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7szz8GQBRMKpb-cvGab4GA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The full announcement with pre-readings is at https://wiki.st-on.org/2026-02-09
Get in touch!
hi@guild.host