Growing a community of conversation and understanding: The 2023 agenda for the systems community

In his 1970 report to the Club of Rome, Hasan Özbekhan compiled an extensive collection of intersecting issues confronting humanity—the Global Problématique. Alas, half a century later, we find ourselves even further entrenched in this network of complex, systemic issues that some have framed the Anthropocene, a period new to human history. Collectively, we must take seriously the question: what purposeful action will aid human flourishing, create and sustain a viable space for humanity, in our ongoing co‐evolution with the Anthropocene‐Biosphere? Through ongoing reflections to this prompt, the theme of the IFSR's 2023 agenda is community. At the heart of this community, we place emphasis on the role of conversation to enable the co‐creation of a common (yet not necessarily shared) understanding. Collective efforts to grow and participate in this diverse cyber‐systemic community of conversation and understanding will enhance the capacity to shift from stasis towards transformative actions demanded by the Global Problématique. In the Batesonian sense, the prospect of making a meta‐difference that makes a difference is the emergent promise of our enterprise made collective.