“What is your SDory, Diana Fisher?”

“What is your SDory, Diana Fisher?”

Dr. Diana Fisher is a retired mathematics teacher. She taught math and computer programming for over 30 years and System Dynamics modeling for over 20 years at the high school level. Since 2014, she has been teaching a series of online SD courses for teachers. She earned a PhD in Systems Science from Portland State University where she also taught environmental math modeling using SD. She also earned a Graduate Certificate in System Dynamics from WPI. Transcript: https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep9-Transcript [https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep9-Transcript] Videos about the importance of teaching SD modeling in high school algebra classes: https://youtu.be/xjGuZR4zehU [https://youtu.be/xjGuZR4zehU] https://youtu.be/sulh0klDk_g [https://youtu.be/sulh0klDk_g] Learn more about Diana, her 3 sequential online SD courses that are 10 weeks each and run in the summer for those who want to teach system dynamics, her presentations and her high school student’s model presentations on her website ccmodelingsystems.com [http://ccmodelingsystems.com] https://ccmodelingsystems.com/courses/ [https://ccmodelingsystems.com/courses/] Links to her books: Lessons in Mathematics: A Dynamic Approach https://www.iseesystems.com/store/books/lessons-in-mathematics/ [https://www.iseesystems.com/store/books/lessons-in-mathematics/] and Modeling Dynamic Systems: Lessons For a First Course https://www.iseesystems.com/store/books/modeling-dynamic-systems/ [https://www.iseesystems.com/store/books/modeling-dynamic-systems/] And information on publications: Lifetime Achievement Award (2011): Fisher, D. M. (2011). “Everybody thinking differently”: K-12 is a leverage point. System Dynamics Review. 27, (4): 394-411. Fisher, D. M. (2017). Reorganizing algebraic thinking: An introduction to dynamic system modeling. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 14(1). Article 20. Available at: http://scholarworks.umt.edu/tme/vol14/iss1/20 [http://scholarworks.umt.edu/tme/vol14/iss1/20]. Fisher, D. M. (2018). Reflections on teaching system dynamics modeling to secondary school  students for over 20 years. Systems Journal Special Edition: Theory and Practice of System Dynamics Modelling, 6(12).  Available at: http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/6/2/12/htm [http://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/6/2/12/htm]. Fisher D.M. (2020) Algebra students build stock/flow models to study non-linear, dynamic feedback system problems. In: Stillman G., Kaiser G., Lampen C. (eds) Mathematical Modelling Education and Sense-making. International Perspectives on the Teaching and Learning of Mathematical Modelling. Springer, Cham. DR. DIANA FISHER Made learning environments richer With CC-STADUS and CC-SUSTAIN Through which she helped train K-12 educators in systems modeling To facilitate student-centered learning And autonomy and curiosity in students. Focus on incremental improvements When you first start teaching And remember to be gentle with grading Help students define the problem scope And their models pass the units check To tackle problems that are complex But most of all inspire in them hope Thank you for listening to SD-cast. Please subscribe to SD-cast to hear more SDories. Email me, ctang@wpi.edu [ctand@wpi.edu], if you would like to be on SD-cast or recommend someone. See below for the WPI SD Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/WPISDclub [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub] https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/] And the sign up link for the WPI System Dynamics Club mailing list: https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm [https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm]

“What is your SDory, Ken Cooper?”

Kenneth “Ken” Cooper has led hundreds of applications of System Dynamics modeling efforts for over 50 years with a total value of a quarter of a trillion dollars. He was President of Pugh-Roberts Associates, Managing Partner of PA Consulting and the founder of Cooper Human Systems. Ken is a two-time Edelman Laureate and a System Dynamics Society Applications Award winner. He is currently retired but works on select consulting projects. He earned his bachelors at MIT, studying under Jay Forrester, and his masters at Boston University. Transcript: https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep8-Transcript [https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep8-Transcript] Ending Ken and I continued chatting about my research interests so I cut that part out. If you would like to meet and talk to Ken and other SD practitioners, please sign up for the System Dynamics Society’s 2021 Fundraising Event for the Student Chapter [https://systemdynamics.org/product/fundraising-event-donations/]! The first WPI System Dynamics micro-course, System Dynamics Fundamentals [https://wpi.catalog.instructure.com/browse/system-dynamics/courses/system-dynamics-foundation] is now available. You can read more of Ken’s bio in the document linked below: https://bit.ly/Ken-Cooper-2021-Bio [https://bit.ly/Ken-Cooper-2021-Bio] Ken allowed us to share the following document “Finding Better Treatments Faster: How System Modeling Can Help Advance Human Disease Research” [https://bit.ly/Ken-Cooper-on-Disease-Modeling] Below are links to more videos and articles of Ken’s work with Mastercard [https://systemdynamics.org/mastercard/], Litton [https://systemdynamics.org/litton/], Fluor [https://systemdynamics.org/fluor/], Hughes Aircraft [https://systemdynamics.org/hughes-aircraft/], and the NFL: Ken Cooper Interview Series (on YouTube) [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWTEBISypYFvVi2kx_AaS1yW73yd1X_HA] Now, here is a poem I wrote about Ken Cooper: Ken Cooper Is really super-duper He and his team's work at Pugh- Roberts are one of the few Finalists and winners of multiple awards Their wiSDom and going the extra yard Can help teams improve their records So learn from their work with MasterCard, the NFL, Litton, Hughes Aircraft and Fluor About litigation and mitigation (dispute no more!) Because lawsuits can leave one destitute So we must be ready to be able to execute A plan to ensure a project's survival (And recognize the rework cycle) Ken now models the dynamics in a human body (Cells, neurons, glucose, insulin and antibody) To succeed one must persevere Do not fall prey to doubt and fear To make modeling problems easier than they seem Find a champion client and join a strong team Thank you for listening to SD-cast. Please subscribe to SD-cast to hear more SDories. Email me, ctang@wpi.edu, if you would like to be on SD-cast or recommend someone. See below for the WPI SD Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/WPISDclub [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub] https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/] Sign up for the WPI System Dynamics Club mailing list: https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm [https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm] Music: Intro and End “Limelight” by Podington Bear is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. I cut and moved the music track to fit the intro and ending. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight] https://creativecommons.org/lic [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/]

"What is your SDory, Sema Çömez?"

Sema Çömez is a PhD Student in Industrial Engineering & Operations Management at Koç University in Turkey. She earned a master of science degree at Boğaziçi University and bachelors degree at Istanbul Technical University also in Industrial Engineering. She is the 2020 Lupina Young Researchers award winner and earned an honorable mention for the Dana Meadows Award of the System Dynamics Society for her work modeling heart failure. Transcript: https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep7-Transcript [https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep7-Transcript] Sema and other young modelers were inspiring to watch in the 2020 International System Dynamics Conference. The 2021 conference is July 25th - 30th. See the link below for more information: https://systemdynamics.org/conference/ [https://systemdynamics.org/conference/] Please also consider attending the free Student-Organized Colloquium which is on Sunday, July 25th: https://systemdynamics.org/2021-colloquium/ [https://systemdynamics.org/2021-colloquium/] Below are links to Sema’s works and the Lupina Award (which we referenced in the interview): https://proceedings.systemdynamics.org/2020/papers/P1353.pdf [https://proceedings.systemdynamics.org/2020/papers/P1353.pdf] https://youtu.be/EJCWOm3MAxY [https://youtu.be/EJCWOm3MAxY] https://systemdynamics.org/lupina-young-researchers-award/ [https://systemdynamics.org/lupina-young-researchers-award/] Now, here is a poem I wrote about Sema: SEMA ÇÖMEZ Students should do what she says Start simple and learn the terminology Before you jump into physiology Sema won the Lupina Young Researcher award And models the dynamics of health issues To help prevent events that are untoward By simulating our bodys’ mechanisms To suggest treatment for our heart tissues (Which can aid humans and other organisms?) But we should exercise on a regular basis To prevent problems like heart disease Diseases like cancer create unease Messes up our natural homeostasis processes Vicious cycles can bring us to our knees (No reinforcing loops, please! Unless it is virtuous and creates an oasis) So we must screen and act early (Else some patients may become surly) In order to prevent a potential tragedy From this unfortunate malady We can model these diseases that one abhors To focus on treatment like Sema and her mentors Thank you for listening to SD-cast. Please subscribe to SD-cast to hear more SDories. Email me, ctang@wpi.edu [ctand@wpi.edu], if you would like to be on SD-cast or recommend someone. See below for the WPI SD Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/WPISDclub [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub] https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/] Sign up for the WPI System Dynamics Club mailing list: https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm [https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm] Music: Intro and End “Limelight” by Podington Bear is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. I cut and moved the music track to fit the intro and ending. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/]

"What are your SDories, Jameses Hines and Lyneis?"

Jim Hines and Jim Lyneis were pioneers in online System Dynamics education at MIT and WPI. Both studied System Dynamics at MIT and worked together at Pugh-Roberts Associates. Correction: Jim Lyneis earned his PhD in Business Administration from University of Michigan. Jim Hines earned his PhD in System Dynamics from MIT. Transcript: https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep6-Transcript [https://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep6-Transcript] Links to their works (which we referenced in the interview): Corporate Planning and Policy Design: A System Dynamics Approach [https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Planning-Policy-Design-Wright-Allen/dp/0262120836]”System dynamics for business strategy: a phased approach” [https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1727(199921)15:1%3C37::AID-SDR158%3E3.0.CO;2-Z]“System dynamics for market forecasting and structural analysis” [https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1727(200021)16:1%3C3::AID-SDR183%3E3.0.CO;2-5]Mastercard project [https://systemdynamics.org/mastercard/]Molecules of System Dynamics Structure [http://sdmolecules.org/] WPI System Dynamics Fundamentals micro-course [https://wpi.catalog.instructure.com/browse/system-dynamics/courses/system-dynamics-foundation] Picture of the end of the interview [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub/status/1390815873456394240] Listen to more SDories on the WPI SD Club YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg3AD1IqQP7EGSNRDzNkIYQ] Now, here is a poem I wrote about Professors Hines and Lyneis: Professors Jim Works are astute and impactful You can read about them on a whim Or take their SD 550 course to be successful In your System Dynamics journey They lay the foundation for your study (And their humor may put you in a gurney) Learning, modeling or teaching with a buddy Is more fun and motivating Join WPI online and learn with us Jim Hines and Jim Lyneis To have more accepts and not rejects In the dynamics of a romance or projects Who wants to rework a defect? We want projects and products to be correct! But learning is an interactive and iterative process With cycles and periods for us to reflect On our mistakes and how we digress Listen, study, and practice to progress So you can “Walk tall and model small” Thank you for listening to SD-cast. Please subscribe to SD-cast to hear more SDories. Email me, ctang@wpi.edu [ctand@wpi.edu], if you would like to be on SD-cast or recommend someone. See below for the WPI SD Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/WPISDclub [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub] https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/] Sign up for the WPI System Dynamics Club mailing list [https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm]. Music: Intro and End “Limelight” by Podington Bear is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. I cut and moved the music track to fit the intro and ending. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight] https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/]

“What is your SDory, Khalid Saeed?”

Khalid Saeed is a professor of economics and system dynamics in the Social Science and Policy Studies department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he served as department head and developed new programs in economics, psychology and system dynamics. He earned a PhD in System Dynamics and Economic Development from MIT and is a past-president of the System Dynamics Society. Transcript: http://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep5-Transcript [http://bit.ly/SD-cast-Ep5-Transcript] I would like to thank Prof. Saeed for his continuous and longtime support of SD Club activities by presenting in and attending Collective Learning Meetings (CLMs) when he can. Below are links to his papers and book (which we referenced in the interview). Slicing Complex Problems paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.4260080305 [https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.4260080305] Slicing Complex Problems video: https://youtu.be/ht3VhcgzWBo [https://youtu.be/ht3VhcgzWBo] “Cancer as a System Dysfunction” paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/systems9010014 [https://youtu.be/ht3VhcgzWBo] “Why Forrester Wished to Replace Both Differential Equations and Economics?”: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3692759 [https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3692759] “Jay Forrester's operational approach to economics” paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1525 [https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1525] “Connecting Feedback Map with Computable Model” video: https://youtu.be/mpgSjnPhhRU [https://youtu.be/mpgSjnPhhRU] Development Planning and Policy Design: A System Dynamics Approach https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GVRQTD2/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_2SZ98VB8PQGEQYZAC7GM [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GVRQTD2/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_2SZ98VB8PQGEQYZAC7GM] Now, as with the custom of SD-cast, here is a poem I wrote about Prof. Saeed: Prof. Khalid Saeed Is a Forrester award recipient Advised Raafat's PhD on dissent Has an good sense of humor Models cancer as a system dysfunction (no tumors!) Call him for advice on sustainable development Economics, system dynamics or just to vent He studied at MIT--the birthplace of SD Brown bag lunches and table functions Are where they talked of designing policy, Feedback, stock-flow and DYNAMO At WPI, our meetings have been online and free To be inclusive so people worldwide can see Or listen to our thoughts on modeling methodology He documents his thoughts for scientific practice and for history So others will know about the systems thinking and SD split Same tools used to different extents. How can we rectify it? Focus on slicing the problem into pieces? Test the structure in equilibrium For any unexpected increases or decreases? "Keep calm and check DT" says Tim Who models the dynamics of insurgencies and conflicts Like his advisor who modeled farmers, soldiers and bandits To understand what will help tensions cease And create conditions for world peace “Farmers, bandits and soldiers: a generic system for addressing peace agendas” paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1507 [https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1507] WPI SD Social Media accounts: https://twitter.com/WPISDclub [https://twitter.com/WPISDclub] https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1916314/] Sign up for the WPI System Dynamics Club mailing list: https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm [https://bit.ly/WPIsdMailForm] Music: “Limelight” by Podington Bear is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. I cut and moved the music track to fit the intro and ending. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Haplessly_Happy/Limelight]