Our efforts to sustain our communities, and the natural environments that support them, are challenged by our ability to communicate effectively between our different forms of knowledge. Respect for diversity and difference, drawing upon all our methods of inquiry, advocacy, and learning to find common ground, are all part of the integrative approach needed to address the complexity of the challenges we face.

This conference was an opportunity for practitioners from broad ranging traditions to share their experiences regarding integrative and innovative approaches that can make a difference.

Systems thinkers from across the globe were invited to participate in the conference through submitting a paper, contributing to workshops, and involvement in the range of planned and emergent activities. Papers were invited, on any aspects of relevance to the conference themes. The conference themes included:

• Resilience, ecology and governance;
• Cultural knowledge and heritage;
• Creativity, organisation and complexity;
• Systems thinking and dynamics;
• Social sustainability and community;
• Livelihood, innovation and opportunity;
• Language, learning and transdisciplinary practice;
• Engineering systems and infrastructure design.

Conference hosts and sponsors:

• Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute;
• Graduate Research Program in Environmental Management and Policy, University of New South Wales;
• Blue Mountains City Council;
• Sydney Catchment Authority, and;
• ISCE Events.

Roger Attwater
John Merson