To help celebrate the new millennium, the International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) and some 20 "co-host" organizations and groups in the systems field will jointly present a three-day World Congress of the Systems Sciences in downtown Toronto Canada during the summer of the year 2000. The purpose of the Congress will be to provide a scientific forum for addressing the many challenges that humankind will face in the new century. The theme will be: "Understanding Complexity: The Systems Sciences in the New Millennium." Former ISSS Presidents Stafford Beer and Anatol Rapoport will serve as honorary co-chairpersons.

The Congress will begin with a welcoming reception and concert on Sunday evening July 16th. This will be followed by three full days (Monday-Wednesday) of morning keynote and co-host plenary speeches, afternoon panels with presentations by representatives of each co-host organization, and informal evening workshop/discussion sessions to allow for more personal interaction and dialogue.

Speakers will include Russell Ackoff, Stafford Beer, John Casti, Eric Chaisson, John Holland, Ervin Laszlo, Anatol Rapoport and David Sloan Wilson. Other invitations are pending. Co-host speakers will include Hal Linstone, Mike Jackson, George Klir, Stanley Salthe, Bill Shireman, Brian Swimme, Robert Vallee, Paul Wohlmuth and others. Some are as yet to be arranged.

Participants in the Congress will also be entitled to attend the 44th annual meeting of the International Society for the Systems Sciences on Thursday to Saturday (July 20-22), which will feature panels and discussion sessions on a broad array of topics and issues. Many panels and symposia will be arranged by the more than 20 "Special Integration Groups" within ISSS, but there will also be various special forums, symposia and paper panels: Some titles include: "The Lessons of Y2K," "Healthy Communities in a Healthy World," "Re-Thinking Human Rights and Global Responsibilities in the New Millennium," "The Art of Forecasting in the Age of Global Warming," "Capitalism in the 21st Century,"The Challenge of Sustainability," "Resources and Environment in the New Millennium" and "Thermoeconomics: Beyond the Second Law."

Other special features include international video/Internet participation via a number of remote sites, a banquet a public lecture by a distinguished public figure (Friday, July 21st), and a "wrap-up" Open Forum on Saturday (July 22nd). Attractively priced accommodations and meals will be available at Ryerson University and nearby.

CO-HOST ORGANIZATIONS (as of July 1, 1999): American Society for Cybernetics, Center for Applied Development Systems, Center for Intelligent Systems, Epic of Evolution Society, General Evolution Reseach Group, Global Futures Foundation, Infodynamics Group, Institute for Law and Systems Research, Institute for the Study of Complex Systems, Interact, International Federation for Systems Research, International Society for the Systems Sciences, International Systems Institute, Korean Society for Systems Research, Portland State University Systems Science Program, Principia Cybernetica, Reseach committee for sociocybernetics, System and Science European Union (UES), Swedish Operational Research Association, United Kingdom Cybernetics Society, United Kingdom Systems Society, Washington Evolutionary Systems Society, World Future Society, World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZER: Dr. Peter A. Corning (ISSS President), World Congress/ISSS, 560 Waverley Street, Ste. 202, Palo Alto, CA 94301 USA. Ph: (650) 325-5717 FAX: (650) 325-3775 E-Mail: WRLDISSS2K@aol.com

LOCAL ORGANIZER: Dr. Helmut (Ken) Burkhardt, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Toronto. Ph: (416) 979-5000 ext. 7246 FAX: (416) 979-5064 E-Mail: Burkhard@acs.ryerson.ca