The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is a worldwide organization for systems sciences. The overall purpose of the ISSS is:[1]
to promote the development of conceptual frameworks based on general system theory, as well as their implementation in practice. It further seeks to encourage research and facilitate communication between and among scientists and professionals from various disciplines and professions at local, regional, national, and international levels.
Initially conceived in 1954 as the Society for the Advancement of General Systems Theory, and started in 1955/56, the Society for General Systems Research became the first interdisciplinary and international co-operation in the field of systems theory and systems science.[2] In 1988 it was renamed to the International Society for the Systems Sciences.
The statement of the mission of the society was formulated with the following four objectives:[4]
to investigate the isomorphy of concepts, laws, and models in various fields, and to help in useful transfers from one field to another
to encourage the development of adequate theoretical models in areas which lack them
to eliminate the duplication of theoretical efforts in different fields
to promote the unity of science through improving the communication among specialists.
In the 1960s local chapters were established in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C, and Florida.[5] Annual meetings were held in the winter, and annually a General Systems Yearbook was published. Periodical articles were published in the society's journal Behavioral Science, and additionally "The Bulletin" offered regional and thematic publications.
In 1971 the Society had 1100 individual and 6 institutional members, and a membership in some societies affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[6] In 1988, the society was renamed the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS).[7] to "reflect its broadening scope".[8]
The Sir Geoffrey Vickers Memorial Award is an annual award in memory of Sir Geoffrey Vickers for outstanding student papers at the pre-doctoral level in the field of the systems sciences. A listing of recipients:[11]
1985 New York, Ib Ravn
1986 Philadelphia, Doug Elias
1987 Budapest, two awards: Alexander Laszlo; Lynda J. Davies and Paul W.J. Ledington (co-authors)
^Jessica Kuper, Adam Kuper (1985) The Social Science Encyclopedia. p.330 confirms that the general systems movement was initially represented by the Society for General Systems Research.
^Mark Davidson (1983) Uncommon sense: the life and thought of Ludwig von Bertalanffy. p.19
^"Society for the Advancement of General Systems Theory" in: General program. Vol.124. American Association for the Advancement of Science (1956) p.223
^Scientific and Technical Societies of the United States. Vol 8 (1968), p.159
^National Academy of Sciences (U.S.) (1971). Scientific, technical and related societies of the United States. 9th edition. National academy of sciences, 1971. ISBN0309018609. p.171
