International Federation for Systems Research
Professional services
UnclaimedAn international nonprofit federation that connects systems science and cybernetics societies and advances research, education, publications, and collaboration.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The International Federation for Systems Research, commonly known as IFSR, is an international nonprofit scientific and educational federation for organizations working in systems science, cybernetics, systems thinking, systems engineering, and related interdisciplinary fields. Founded on 12 March 1980, it operates as a coordinating and representative body for more than thirty member organizations around the world rather than as a commercial brand or conventional research institute. The federation’s central purpose is to strengthen the international systems community. It coordinates research and educational activity among its member societies, supports international meetings and workshops, encourages collaborative research and development, and promotes programs and publications concerned with the analysis, design, development, and management of systems. Its remit spans both theoretical and applied work, including cybernetics, general systems theory, systemic practice, organizational systems, systems engineering, complexity, and systems education. IFSR also seeks to develop shared intellectual and professional infrastructure. Its stated activities include preparing educational resources, encouraging standards of competence in systems research and systems education, and developing a knowledge base for the cybernetic and systems sciences. The federation provides coordination and assistance to its member organizations, allowing national, regional, and specialist associations to participate in a broader international network. A distinctive part of IFSR’s identity is its emphasis on dialogue and community formation. Its biennial IFSR Conversations bring together relatively small groups of systems scientists and practitioners for extended, self-organized inquiry into issues of scientific and social importance. Unlike conventional academic conferences centered on formal paper presentations, the Conversations are structured around preparation, intensive face-to-face discussion, and subsequent consolidation of results. Proceedings document the work of participant teams and contribute to continuing debate in the field. IFSR has also supported a publication ecosystem. Its former Journal of Systems Research was merged in 1997 with the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ Journal of Behavioural Science, creating the Journal of Systems Research and Behavioral Science. The federation has additionally supported an international book series on systems science and engineering, newsletters, and proceedings from its Conversations. The newsletter, published since 1981, reports on member societies, systems research, conferences, and developments affecting the field. In 2010, the IFSR General Assembly approved the creation of the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences. IASCYS was intended to recognize leading contributors nominated through IFSR member associations and to promote the systems and cybernetics worldview. The federation’s network includes organizations concerned with systems science, cybernetics, systems engineering, systemic design, organizational practice, complexity, and knowledge systems across Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. Its current public-facing leadership for the 2024–2026 period includes President Ray Ison, Secretary General Louis Klein, and vice presidents Pamela Buckle, Rika Preiser, Nam Nguyen, and Philippe Vandenbroeck.
History
The International Federation for Systems Research was established on 12 March 1980 by three organizations: the American Society for General Systems Research, now associated with the International Society for the Systems Sciences; the Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies; and the Dutch Systems Group. George J. Klir became its first president. From the outset, IFSR was designed as a federation of organizations rather than an individual-membership professional society. Its role was to connect national and specialist bodies and provide an international platform for systems research and applications. During its early development, the federation established the IFSR Conversations, a distinctive meeting format associated particularly with Bela H. Banathy. The Conversations were conceived as an alternative to conventional conferences in which participants primarily listen to formal presentations. Small groups of approximately thirty to forty systems scientists and practitioners prepare collectively, select or refine a theme, work through intensive discussion, and later consolidate their findings in proceedings. The meetings were initially held in Fuschl near Salzburg, Austria, and became a recurring mechanism for examining scientific and societal issues from a systems perspective. IFSR expanded its scholarly communication activities through a journal, a book series, a newsletter, and Conversation proceedings. The IFSR Journal of Systems Research began in 1984. In 1997 it was combined with the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ Journal of Behavioural Science, resulting in the Journal of Systems Research and Behavioral Science. The federation’s International Series on Systems Science and Engineering provided another route for publishing substantial systems scholarship. Its newsletter, issued since 1981, has served as an internal and public communication channel for member societies, research developments, conferences, and notable figures in the field. The federation’s presidency has rotated among prominent systems and cybernetics scholars. The recorded sequence includes George J. Klir, Robert Trappl, Gerrit Broekstra, Gerard de Zeeuw, Bela H. Banathy, Michael C. Jackson, Yong Pil Rhee, Jifa Gu, Matjaz Mulej, Gary S. Metcalf, Mary C. Edson, and Ray Ison. These changes reflect the federation’s international and interdisciplinary character, with leadership drawn from different schools and geographical regions within systems research. On 7 April 2010, the IFSR General Assembly approved the creation of the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences. The academy was intended to recognize outstanding contributors nominated by IFSR member associations, activate a network of leading scholars, and raise the visibility of systems and cybernetics as fields of scientific and professional inquiry. Among its planned forms of recognition was the Bertalanffy/Wiener Medal. The IFSR Conversations continued through the 2010s. Proceedings are documented for meetings including those held in 2012, 2014, and 2016. The 2016 Conversation took place at St. Magdalena in Linz, Austria, and focused on systems literacy. The organization’s public information states that work has been undertaken to develop alternative formats for future Conversations after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the 2024–2026 term, the executive committee lists Ray Ison as president, Louis Klein as secretary general, and Pamela Buckle, Rika Preiser, Nam Nguyen, and Philippe Vandenbroeck as vice presidents. Today, IFSR remains a coordinating network for more than thirty organizations covering systems science, cybernetics, systems engineering, systemic design, complexity, organizational practice, and related areas. Its activities continue to center on international cooperation, research dissemination, education, meetings, publications, and support for member associations.
- 2024
2024–2026 executive committee
[2]Publicly listed leadership for the term includes Ray Ison as president, Louis Klein as secretary general, and four vice presidents.
- 2016
Conversation on systems literacy
[1]The latest specifically identified IFSR Conversation in the supplied reference material took place at St. Magdalena in Linz, Austria, with systems literacy as its focus.
- 2010
International Academy approved
[1]The IFSR General Assembly approved the creation of the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences.
- 1997
Journal merger
[1]The IFSR journal merged with the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ Journal of Behavioural Science, forming the Journal of Systems Research and Behavioral Science.
- 1984
Journal of Systems Research established
[1]IFSR established its journal to encourage disciplined and transdisciplinary inquiry into systems and systems programs.
- 1981
Newsletter begins
[1]The IFSR Newsletter began reporting on member societies, systems scholarship, conferences, and developments in the international systems community.
- 1980
Federation founded
[1]The IFSR was founded on 12 March by the American Society for General Systems Research, the Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies, and the Dutch Systems Group, with George J. Klir as its first president.
- 1980
IFSR Conversations established
[1]The federation introduced a participatory meeting format designed to support extended, self-guided inquiry rather than conventional paper-centered conference sessions.
Products and positioning
A peak international coordinating body for systems science and cybernetics organizations, emphasizing transdisciplinary research, systems education, scholarly communication, and participatory inquiry.
International scientific meetings · 1980
IFSR Conversations
A recurring meeting format in which a relatively small international group of systems scientists and practitioners prepares collaboratively, explores a socially significant theme, works in self-organized teams, and publishes consolidated results. The format prioritizes dialogue, collective inquiry, and reflection over conventional sequences of formal presentations.
Scientific newsletter · 1981
IFSR Newsletter
The federation’s informal newsletter, published once or twice yearly, communicates developments in systems research, member-society activities, conferences, and notable researchers. It has appeared in print and online formats and provides an ongoing record of the federation’s international network.
Academic journal · 1984
IFSR Journal of Systems Research
A journal established by IFSR to provide a transdisciplinary venue for work on the analysis, design, development, and management of systems and programs. In 1997 it was merged with the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ Journal of Behavioural Science.
Academic book series
International Series on Systems Science and Engineering
A publication avenue associated with IFSR for substantial and high-quality work in systems science and engineering. The series has involved editors and contributors from universities and research organizations across several countries.
Scholarly recognition body · 2010
International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences
An academy created with IFSR approval to recognize distinguished contributors to systems and cybernetics. Candidates are nominated by IFSR member associations rather than applying individually, and the academy has used the Bertalanffy/Wiener Medal as a form of recognition.
Brand decisions
2020
Explore alternative Conversation formats after the pandemicStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the established pattern of in-person IFSR Conversations.
Action taken
The federation began working on alternative formats for future Conversations.
Aftermath
The supplied reference material does not specify a final format or completed successor meeting.
2010
Approve the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic SciencesStrategyBackground
IFSR identified a need for an international mechanism to honor outstanding systems and cybernetics scholars and raise the visibility of the disciplines.
Action taken
The General Assembly approved the founding of IASCYS, with nominations routed through IFSR member associations.
Aftermath
The academy became an associated recognition structure and introduced the Bertalanffy/Wiener Medal among its honors.
1997
Merge the IFSR journal with the ISSS journalM&ABackground
The federation sought to consolidate overlapping scholarly publication activities with the International Society for the Systems Sciences.
Action taken
The IFSR Journal of Systems Research was merged with the International Society for the Systems Sciences’ Journal of Behavioural Science.
Aftermath
The combined publication became the Journal of Systems Research and Behavioral Science.
Sources2 sources
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