ESERA SIGs

SIG 12: Systems Thinking and Modeling in Science Education

Mission statement

This SIG aims to serve as a trans-disciplinary community of practice for science education researchers to collaboratively investigate the theoretical, methodological, and pedagogical foundations of systems thinking and modeling as critical tools for navigating complex socio-scientific challenges and fostering scientific literacy.

Identity and rationale
Our identity is rooted in the idea that systems  thinking and scientific modeling are central practices of contemporary science and essential components of science education. Systems thinking (ST) and modeling are used to make sense of complex phenomena and engage with socio-scientific challenges, such as climate change, pandemics, and sustainable energy sources. Both ST and modeling require learners to identify the relevant components of the investigated system and the interactions between them, to iteratively develop, evaluate and revise models that represent the relevant features of the system, and to consider different perspectives  and evaluate alternative explanations and solutions. ST and modeling have become central to the science education community in recent years, with many studies and publications focusing on these topics. At the latest ESERA conference (2025) a workshop organised by members of this SIG proposal brought together more than 20 ESERA members from multiple countries who identified a strong need for an ongoing collaborative space dedicated to these themes. As a result, this group of interested researchers started meeting on a bi-monthly basis to discuss and share their ideas and research on systems thinking. 

Aims and scope
This SIG aims to serve as an inclusive platform for science education researchers, educators, and doctoral students interested in systems thinking and modeling. It will promote dialogue, collaboration, and scholarly exchange across disciplinary  boundaries and educational contexts, to discuss critical issues related to ST and modeling, and to advance the future directions of the research field.

This SIG will focus on questions such as:

• What are the main frameworks and foundational theories of this field?
• What are the methodological approaches used to investigate ST and modeling in science
  education?
• How can systems thinking and modeling be effectively researched, taught, and assessed
• What are the goals, aims, directions, and implications of research on systems thinking and modeling?
• What contributions can systems thinking and modeling make to scientific literacy and
  socio-scientific engagement?

Coordinators:

Tom Bielik; tom.bielik@ru.nl
Gaye Ceyhan; gaye.ceyhan@bogazici.edu.tr

Coordinators elect:

Seamus Delaney; s.delaney@deakin.edu.au
Katharina Düsing; duesing@uni-bremen.de