Map the System 2021
Overview
Map the System (MTS) supports students in studying and researching a complex social or environmental issue through skill-building workshops and mentorship from faculty members and community leaders. Through the program, students identify an issue, develop their skills in critically understanding the components to the issue, and are guided through creating a report and visual map based on their learning. The program concludes with a virtual showcase where students present their work to the community of mentors that contributed their expertise.
After the program, students have the option of applying for funding to further their learning through Apprenticing with a Problem, and be considered for a national competitive event.
Registration for Map the System is now closed.
Virtual Information Session
Watch the recording of our Map the System 2021 virtual information session!
"Go into Map the System with an open mind, leave your preconceptions and biases at the door! The intention is to map a system - it’s not to look at a particular issue with the background knowledge that you already have."
This program is available to all students enrolled in a full-time or part-time academic program at Ryerson University. This includes undergraduate and graduate students, and continuing education students who are enrolled in credit-bearing courses. This program is also available to recent alumni who have graduated within the past year.
Participants can register as an individual or as a team. As an individual, the participant must meet the above eligibility criteria. As a team, only one participant must meet the above eligibility criteria (i.e., other team members do not need to be current students or recent alumni, or have any affiliation to the university). There is a maximum of five participants per team.
All workshops will be hosted online using Zoom. A Zoom link and password to access the workshops will be sent via email to all persons registered. You can download Zoom on your device for free using the following link: https://zoom.us/ (external link, opens in new window) .
Workshop dates to be announced.
Note: Workshops are not mandatory to attend, but are recommended resources for Map the System participants.
- Workshop 1: An Introduction to Systems Thinking - February 26 at 1:00 p.m. (EST): This session will be facilitated by Jess Machado and Melanie Panitch. Participants will be introduced to the theory and practice of systems thinking, the components of a systems thinking approach, and broadly identifying system complexities and dynamics. Using our case study research on the system of post-secondary student debt, this session provides a new way of thinking about the relationships and dynamics that make up, maintain, and/or challenge complex, social challenges.
- Workshop 2: Tools for Systems Mapping - March 3 at 12:30 p.m. (EST): This session will be facilitated by Jess Machado and Melanie Panitch. Participants will be introduced to various methods and tools used in systems thinking to map complex systems (e.g., iceberg model, causal-loop diagrams, system archetypes). We will continue using our case study research on the system of post-secondary student debt to demonstrate application of these tools.
- Workshop 3: In Progress Seminar - March 10 at 1:00 p.m. (EST): For this session, instead of a workshop, we will be hosting an In Progress Seminar. We're inviting participants to bring their problems and challenges so far and we will discuss some ideas on how to get through them. We recommend having reviewed some key questions in the iceberg model, and bring forward whatever you're stuck on.
Map the System 2018
The finalists for MTS 2018 were Aalokita Singla, Gursewak Singh, and Haifa Al Harz, with their project From Farm to Fork to Landfill: Food Waste in Toronto.
Map the System Student Showcase
Review the submissions from our Map the System 2020 student showcase!
