Organisations around the world increasingly recognise an urgent need for the right expertise to face the challenges and complexities of the 21st century.
That expertise is more than just a technical understanding of emerging technologies — it is also a critical awareness of how these technologies interact with wider cultural, social, economic, political, and ecological systems. The School of Cybernetics is bringing the transdisciplinary practice of cybernetics to the world through innovative research-informed learning experiences for industry, government and communities.
The School of Cybernetics’ learning experience series, Navigating Cybernetic Futures, offers short non-award learning experiences preparing today’s leaders, creatives and change-makers for an increasingly fast-paced technological world including the following:
- Decoding AI through Cybernetics
- Introducing Cybernetic Leadership
- Creating Futures with Cybernetics
- Transforming Complex Systems with Cybernetics
From leading through the uncertainty generated by novel technologies to engaging with AI from fresh perspectives, our one-day programs enable participants to understand their role in building the better, fairer, and safer systems of the future. The learning experiences provide powerful practices founded on expansive cybernetic inquiry, as well as creative fuel for reimagining technology’s role in the world.
These experiences are delivered face to face. If you’d like to enrol in multiple learning experiences and have an invoiced raised for your organisation, please contact our team at clt@anu.edu.au.
Learning Experiences
Decoding AI through Cybernetics
Decoding AI Through Cybernetics
Mode: in person
Fee: $2,310
Canberra Dates
Waitlist
Register your interest in Decoding AI in your nearest capital city (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney)
Description
Artificial Intelligence is suddenly everywhere. New AI solutions are being openly released to the public and integrated into everyday computing systems across all sectors and settings, both with and without our consent. Concern about the impact of these novel technologies continue to play out in the public discourse and through legal and social challenges to the legitimacy of these systems.
This one-day learning experience will empower participants with a stronger and clearer understanding of AI technologies and their implications and controversies. The program will develop new ways to discuss AI outside the constraints of existing – and often misleading – technological terms and narratives. Participants will explore expected and unexpected outcomes and interactions between the components of an AI system and wider societal systems. Using cybernetic tools, participants will further consider how to manage the technology across current and future deployment scenarios.
Audiences
This learning experience is suitable for all persons interested in or involved with AI in a professional capacity, with no prior technical training or background required.
“It was great learning from experts who are both knowledgeable and passionate. They presented technical concepts in an engaging and relatable manner.”
Multinational Professional Services Organisation
“Loved how the team managed the day, especially the well-supported interactive sessions that encouraged deep discussions.”
Higher Education Institution
Through this learning experience you will
- Understand AI technologies and explore new terms for explaining and framing AI.
- Learn how AI is integrated in broader social systems and apply cybernetic tools for AI management.
- Assess and imagine current and future deployments of AI.
Program (short version)
| Time | Topic |
| 09:00 | Introductions: Don’t PANIC! Playing with AI Tools |
| 09:30 | Demystifying AI (Genevieve Bell) |
| 10:15 | AI Hype: Neither Hallucinations Nor Sentience |
| 11:00 | Morning tea |
| 11:30 | Building Better AI Futures |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Useful Tools for Managing AI |
| 15:30 | Preparing for the AI of Tomorrow (Genevieve Bell) |
| 16:00 | Finish and networking |
Introducing Cybernetic Leadership
Introducing Cybernetic Leadership
- Mode: in person
- Fee: $2,310
Canberra Dates
Waitlist
Register your interest in Introducing Cybernetic Leadership in your nearest capital city (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney)
Description
Being a leader in today’s tech-driven environment can be tough. Emerging technologies such as AI and automation challenge decision-makers across all sectors to respond rapidly to complex and ambiguous situations, while managing the often-unknown risks and opportunities of adoption and deployment. Concurrently, conventional organisational structures and relationships are also giving way as these technologies usher in new social norms and ways of working.
This one-day learning experience offers leaders a chance to learn ways to navigate these unfamiliar waters. Join School director Genevieve Bell as we develop leaders’ capabilities in self-reflection and systemic thinking, preparing them to meet the challenges of the future. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, the learning experience guides learners through cybernetic leadership principles for the 21st century that are immediately and pragmatically applicable to their own contexts.
Audiences
This learning experience is suitable for people taking on leadership or management duties in organisational or community contexts, regardless of industry. It is particularly relevant for those leading change.
“The session prompted me to reflect on some of the ways I interact with various stakeholders, from technical IT personnel to broad systems thinkers. The course gave space to consider the unintended nature of activities and the four cybernetic principles will be a useful tool in my job.”
Research Organisation, Australian Government
“The course provided a fresh perspective to my previous learnings in leadership. The tools presented will be especially useful in my current role which is aiming to inspire, educate, inform and lead our organisational exploration of emerging and disruptive technology.”
Australian Public Service
Through this learning experience you will
- Learn and practice cybernetic leadership principles to better navigate emerging technologies and the organisational complexities they introduce
- Understand the history and practice of leadership from interdisciplinary perspectives
- Learn to the create conditions for team resilience in ambiguous and uncertain situations
Program (short version)
| Time | Topic |
| 09:00 | Introductions: Situating Leadership in Emerging Technology |
| 09:30 | Leadership: A Cybernetic Perspective (Genevieve Bell) |
| 10:15 | Systems Thinking and Cybernetic Leadership Principles |
| 11:00 | Morning tea |
| 11:30 | Applying Cybernetic Leadership Principles |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 | Preparing for Complexity through Cybernetic Leadership |
| 15:30 | Synthesis and wrap up (Genevieve Bell) |
| 16:00 | Finish and networking |
Transforming Complex Systems with Cybernetics
Transforming Complex Systems with Cybernetics
- mode: in person
- Fee: $2,310
Canberra Dates
Waitlist
Register your interest in Transforming Complex Systems with Cybernetics in your nearest capital city (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney)
Description
The ‘system’ is one of the most important concepts and realities underpinning our contemporary 21st century world. Increasing complexities and interdependencies across engineered systems create both greater fragility and resilience for networked lives, while we continue to grapple with the sociological and ecological implications of these technological deployments.
This one-day learning experience offers participants a chance to learn new perspectives and approaches for solving difficult and persistent systemic challenges. Participants will learn and apply cybernetic tools to illuminate a system, its dynamics and trajectories, and begin to unfold possibilities for effective intervention. This learning experience aims to demonstrate the practical application of cybernetic principles for participants to integrate the presented toolkit into their practice to begin transforming complex systems.
Audiences
This learning experience is suitable for all persons undertaking to solve complex systemic challenges at work, and particularly for those implementing and designing change.
Through this learning experience you will
- Develop new perspectives on systems thinking to meet complex and persistent challenges.
- Apply cybernetic tools to illuminate systems and their interdependencies.
- Apply cybernetic tools to enable interventions across systems to resolve existing and emerging problems.
Program (short version)
| Time | Topic |
| 09:00 | Arrival |
| 09:30 | Welcome |
| 09:50 | Systems and Cybernetics |
| 10:20 | The pulse of a system |
| 10:45 | Morning tea |
| 11:00 | Observing systems |
| 11:30 | Acting in systems |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 13:15 | Transforming systems |
| 15:00 | Afternoon tea |
| 15:20 | Wrap up |
| 16:00 | Finish and networking |
Creating Futures with Cybernetics
Creating Cybernetic Futures
- Mode: In person
- Fee: $2,310
Canberra Dates
Waitlist
Register your interest in Creating Futures with Cybernetics in your nearest capital city (Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth & Sydney)
Description
In a time of accelerating change, we are increasingly responsible for creating a shared future in which emerging technologies and technological systems are safe, inclusive, and sustainable. Understanding the different histories of and pathways through a system allows us to imagine different possibilities and risks.
This one-day learning experience will guide participants through the challenge of imagining and influencing the development of new systems. Drawing upon the ground-breaking work of the School’s Cybernetic Imaginations Residents and the Australian Cybernetic exhibition, the program immerses participants in storytelling and creative practice, guiding them through the uncomfortable and the unexpected as they reimagine the future and their role in crafting it.
Participants will analyse the theories, models, and strategies that inform influential narratives about the future, and delve into how our personal visions for the future, both conscious and unconscious, shape our current actions and decision-making. Participants will further be introduced to novel cybernetic practices for future-planning, so that they might take an active role in crafting better systems and futures.
Audience
This learning experience is suitable for all persons in creative positions within industry or business, with special interest in designing for responsible technological futures.
Through this learning experience you will
- Develop your own critical position on the history and art of futuring
- Use cybernetic futuring tools with confidence
- Imagine hopeful futures and create a concrete plan for making those futures possible
Program
| Time | Topic |
| 09:00 | Introduction and a history of the future |
| 09:50 | Disrupting the present with Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell |
| 10:30 | Morning tea |
| 10:45 | Introducing the New Cybernetics Futuring Praxis |
| 11:20 | Futures: a case study |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 13:30 | Applying and evaluating the New Cybernetics Futuring Praxis |
| 15:00 | Developing feedback-enriched plans for creating our futures |
| 15:30 | The future, now – a call to action with Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell |
| 16:30 | Finish and networking |