Women in the Systems Sciences

Thank you, Len for your recommendation. Indeed, Margaret Mead is a role model. She was the first woman President of the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS, formerly the Society for General Systems Research, SGSR), holding the office from 1972-3. I have been reading about her path through systems thinking, starting with her autobiography, Blackberry Winter (1972). As you mention, Len, Margaret was a strong advocate for systems thinking, as well as an authority in anthropology. Like many authorities, she had her critics. Derek Freeman (1983) attempted to discredit her work after her death, but Paul Shankman (2009) delved deeply into Freeman's critique and found it biased and flawed (The Trashing of Margaret Mead). As I move through the literature about her, I found Mary Catherine Bateson's (1984) memoir of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, With a Daughter's Eye, moving and insightful. Donella Meadows is another role model who has greatly contributed to our understanding of systems sciences. While both these women serve as standard-bearers and the WSS project will profile them as such, the focus will be on women currently contributing to the field. Should you have other recommendations for women you think should be part of the research, please contact me privately, thus honoring the privacy of those you choose to nominate. If you don't have my email address, please use the contact form and I will contact you. As always, thanks so much for your input.