Research on transformative conferences and dialogue

Online access is also available to many of the following documents, with those of earlier and later date.

Transformative conferencing and dialogue

Following the work of the UIA's earlier series of International Congresses on Congress Organization, which focused on meeting logistics, a series of studies have been made of the psycho-social aspects of communication in conferences. The need for a new form of transformative conferencing is being explored.

• Sustainable Dialogue as a Necessary Template for Sustainable Global Community (1995)
• Reflections on Practical Organization of Transdisciplinary Conferences (1994)
• La méthode européenne: un problème de spectacle? (1994)
• Pattern of Meeting Participant Roles: shadowy 'roundtable' hidden within every meeting (1993)
• Checklist of Possible Meeting Facilitation Services (1993)
• Open Space Notes (1993)
• Participant Interaction Messaging: proposal for a low-cost, on-site conference communication medium (1991)
• Transformative Conferencing: the re-enchantment of networking through conceptware (1990)
• Towards Another Order of Conferencing: insights into conferencing from the Chinese Book of Changes (1990)
• Energy Patterns in Conferences: weaving patterns of information as a context for higher levels of integration (1988)
• Transformative Conferencing; problems and possibilities on the new frontier of high risk gatherings concerning social development (1984)
• Conference Transformations: maturing the reflective, focusing and transformative power of large-group conferences, especially in response to conditions of social upheaval (1982)
• Metaconferencing Possibilities (1981)
• Metaconferencing: discovering people/viewpoint networks in conferences (1980)
• Large-Group Conferences: maturing their reflective, focusing and transformative power, especially in conditions of social upheavel (1980)
• Participant Interaction Messaging: improving the conference process (1980)
• Meeting Thoughts, Visions and Speculations (1979)
• Development: beyond "science" to "wisdom" - facilitating the emergence of configurative understanding in "Councils of the Wise" through computer conferencing dialogues (1979)
• Facilitating the Networking Processes of a Transnational University Using Computer Conferencing (1978)
• Interrelating Viewpoints in Complex Meetings: the Horus wall-display technique (1978)
• Enhancement of Communication Between Commonwealth Organizations Using Computer Conferencing Techniques (1978)
• Emergence of Integrative Processes in a Self-Reflective Assembly (1978)
• A Meeting-related Information Exchange Facility Within a Computer Conferencing Environment (1977)
• Technical Facilitation of Meeting Dynamics and Participant Inter-action: from conference organization for well-behaved participants to conference organization for the satisfaction of participants (1977)
• Enhancing Communication at a Large Conference/Festival: Using Computer Conferencing (1977)
• A Communication Tool for Meeting Participants (1974)
• Summary of Functions Performed by NGO Conferences (1972)
• The Use of "Multi-meetings": proposal for improvement to NGO/UN relationships (1971)

Learnings from experimental conferences

• Transdisciplinarity Through Structured Dialogue: beyound sterile dualities in meetings to the challenge of participant impotence (1994)
• Resisting Consensus: new visions for WFSF constitution (1994)
• Points for Exploration: Parliament of the World's Religions (Chicaco, August 1993) (1993)
• Notes on 'Partnerships for Change' Conference (Manchester, September 1993) (1993)
• Envisioning the Dynamics of a World Parliament of Religions (1993)
• Learnings for the Future of Inter-Faith Dialogue (1993)
• Comments on Social Constructionism and Postmodernism: in the light of the Conference on Realities and Relationships (Taos NM, April 1993) (1993)
• Parliament of the World's Religions (Chicago, 1993): learnings for the future of inter-faith dialogue (1993)
• A Conference Towards Spiritual Concord as a Metaphor of Spiritual Concord: notes and reflections (1992)
• Remarks Concerning Planetary Congress 1982 (1981)
• An Introduction to the (New Age) congress, Florence 1978 (1978)
• A Congress that Dared the Unthinkable (1978)
• Meeting Psychosocial Dynamics: proposed for World Forum on Social Innovation (1975)
• Revised Notes on the Proposed Conference Series on Social Catalysis to be held under the Auspices of Mankind 2000 in Paris (1974)
• UN Environment Programme Wastes NGO Resources: how to butcher the "Spirit of Stockholm" (1973)

Facilitative Centres for International Associations

• Preliminary Outline of Future Communication Requirements at an International Centre (1980)
• A Computer-Enhanced Communication Environment for an International Conference Center (1979)

See also recent online documents on this theme written by UIA staff members in a personal capacity [more]