Ever experienced a 'nested' Open Space? A full blown OST forum set within a conference.
This is what was cocreated recently as part of a residential for graduate students of the Department of Social Ecology at the University of Western Sydney at Hawkesbury. I had been invited to be a guest at this annual gathering for students undertaking research theses for masters and PhD degrees. In the event my role evolved into both presenter of ideas to open the 3 and 1/2 day gathering and of facilitator of Open Space processes during its course. 'Social Ecology' is difficult to pin down; in my knowing a working definition is that it is 'Pariticipant observation in processes underpinning personal, professional and community transformation.' It attracts mature age students from many diverse disciplines and from all around the Antipodes. Invariably they are passionate and committed people; about 70 were present at the gathering. The theme for the residential was a composite of 'crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries', 'incorporating a variety of media/styles/approaches' and the 'post modern/constructivist/how real is real' ... all in the pursuit of creating a significant research thesis. Here is a brief overview of the happenings. For those interested questions to me could flesh out more details of the event and its origins, as well as what interpretation to place on specific observations and outcomes. . I gave the opening presentation on 'Time for conversation in research and practice: what happens when people come together knowing that they will treat each other well.' In this I touched on ideas relating to respectful interaction derived from physics (David Bohm and notions of dialogue), biology (Humberto Maturana and notions of knowledge being produced in course of conversation, cybernetics (Gordon Pask and notions of intelligence being a property of conversation and family therapy (Harold Goolishan and others on notions of therapy being conversational artistry). This presentation was set in the context of OST principles; including pictures of a bumblebee and a butterfly which my wife drew some time ago and which were inadvertently soaked in the interim; they have a surreal appearance. The whole gathering could not be conducted in an OST format as there was an agenda which included presentations from students on the progress of their research and from staff members. Nonetheless there were opportunities for two 'dinky di' ie 'box and dice' OST forums (fora?). . One was for the purpose of students finding others who had similar interests relevant to the conduct of a scholarly project and the production of a respected thesis. This was conducted in the late afternoon of the first day. Within 15 minutes the bulletin board had about 25 items on it. It was then that I had a powerful learning experience. The issue was not Which issues will be discussed today, and which on the succeeding days? The group made it clear that they wanted to find others with similar interests NOW and use the opportunity of the rest of the residential to pursue these mutual interests. They were not concerned with recording who was there except for their own purposes of keeping connected nor were they concerned with documenting the proceedings of the conversations. The only issue seemingly then was where particular groups would hold their first meeting or 'huddle' (a term used within the Social Ecology culture). I quickly came to the appreciation that I had no role in this 'arranging' and so I just 'sat on my hands' and let it happen. Which it did, with no apparent hassle, to my amazement but not to my surprise. I have learned to trust the principles underlying the process! . The other was a Passion Cafe, held on the last night. This is a process created by Nancy Margulies, as part of World Cafe (www.theworldcafe.com). She calls it _Cafe with Open Space a la carte_. In essence I invited all participants to contribute whatever they wished to a social gathering which would have some talking in small groups and which had the potential to include other expression of passion. The general comment had been made that they had spent the previous three days in talking and listening and they felt a need to 'move'. (There was circle dancing for those who wished prior to the start of each day's business). People brought all sorts of decor including flowers and candles and pink paper table cloths. They also produced fine finger foods and soft drinks and wine as well as percolated coffee. One man from the nearby Blue Mountains 'happened to have' a set of four drums and a collection of small percussion instruments with him. On the night participants wove an incredible collage of songs, stories, poems, drumming and dancing without a shred of prior preparation or consultation. The improvising was such that any group of jazz musos would have been triggered to marvel in sheer astonishment. There is much that could be said about the whole event and the place of OST principles and practice in it. For the moment I will conclude by saying that the gathering was remarkably successful as adjudged by the demeanor of the group as a whole and how they 'got on' with what was required. . And perhaps for purposes of offering another perspective of applications of OST I would say that I experienced no conflict - in this particular context - in being both a presenter of ideas on conversational practice and the facilitator of a full blown OST process _within_ the overall conference. And so the caravan moves on.
