The 6th Systems Science European Congress of the Systems Science European Union (UES), 19-22 September 2005, Paris, France.(NEWS)

It is intended that, during this 6th Congress of the Systems Science European Union, to be held at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Metiers (ENSAM: 151 Bd de l'Hopital, Paris 75013), most of the themes pertinent to systems science, be they conceptual or operational, will be covered, provided they ensure keener analysis and comprehension of complex situations and better decision making and/or management of controlled action.

We propose, for a number of topics, some directions that may lead to new developments. These are only suggestions, and in no way a line to follow.

(1) Consolidation of systems science fundamentals:

System variety, emergence (of action, of properties, of meaning), networks, feedbacks, control and regulation, frontier and limits, levels of organization, environment, stability, evolution, adaptation, etc.

As a scientific theory, a theory of emergence should help us in describing, understanding and, possibly, in predicting the behaviour of a system, provided that well-defined conditions are met. There is a certain need to develop the formalization of systems operations focused on emergence phenomena. Some suggest that a 'new' language be invented which, via its operators, could generate meaning. Submitted papers concerning emergence will be welcomed.

(2) Systems complexity--defining and describing new tools to better apprehend, control and manage complex systems:

Facing the multiplicity of factors prevailing in systems, the observer-actor, while considering the futility of looking for an explanatory relationship of the 'cause vs. effect' type, has invented a new concept: systemic complexity. Today this concept still remains fuzzy and does not convey all the subtlety imbedded in this term. We think that the time has come to elaborate a 'calculus of complexity', so as to better formalize both the organization and evolution of …