Chaos, Complexity, and Conflict

No, I'm not describing my life, although those words could...

This week, June 5-7, I attending the International Conference on Chaos, Complexity, and Conflict at the Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. This was the first conference I've ever attended so I was quite excited. About a week before the conference we (my boss and I) noticed that the conference information had changed slightly. The agenda had changed from a "Marriage Ceremony" themed agenda, which didn't matter much to me although it had made it sound more fun. The speaker materials were very much scientific and analytical, which was not what we expected at all. After a conversation with one of the conference planners, we decided to go ahead with attending. Due to the busyness of our office with the annual salary recommendations for faculty and unclassified staff, my boss was not able to get away for the conference. Instead, Pam Foster from the Office of Affirmative Action was able to take her place.

Thursday- Pam and I left Manhattan, with me driving a university car, about 2:30 pm. After an uneventful drive, we arrived in Omaha and were checked into the Embassy Suites and relaxing by 6:00 pm. At 6:30 we attended the reception and opening presentations of the conference. It was very nice and a good introduction to the topics. My favorite parts of the entire conference were the interactive sessions. I seem to learn best this way and I much prefer it to lectures. The evening ended about 9:30 or so. What a long day to start off with! Too tired to enjoy the exercise room or pool, hot tub, or sauna, we went right to bed.

Friday- After sleeping in a bit, the morning started off with a quick complimentary breakfast at the hotel and then a shuttle ride to the Creighton Student Union for a full day of the conference. Another light breakfast was offered with time to mingle, and then it was time to get down to business. Then ensued the hardest, most scientific and analytical portions of the conference. Complexity science is definitely NOT my area! Two presenters explained the field and their research. I was lost almost all morning. After an OK boxed lunch, the afternoon went better for me. The explanations about the information presented earlier in the day helped me to understand a bit more of it. Due to the severe weather throughout the Midwest, one of the presenters was unable to make it to do his presentation. So, instead there was some improvization on the part of the conference planners and we did some improv exercises which helped me to more understand a couple of the complexity constructs that had been presented. We also had "break out sessions" and "table top" conversations on different issues in the fields of conflict resolution and complexity. I chose to start my own group during the open session of table top conversations because the others didn't interest me. I hosted a conversation on Conflict Resolution in Academia- Personnel Issues. That gathered a very full table! I think those at the table learned more from me about K-State's practices than I learned from them, but it was an enlightening discussion which I very much enjoyed hosting. I also gained ideas of what K-State can do to better in relation to our practices using our ombudspersons' experiences in conflict resolution and moving forward with what they have learned from their time as part-time ombudspersons and analysing the data they gather from the conflicts in which they assist. I hope to become more involved in this part of conflict resolution at K-State in the future.

After the afternoon portion, we were shuttled back to the hotel to change and have a break (about 30 minutes) and then were shuttled to the zoo! We had a chance to wander through the rainforest and then had a nice catered dinner buffet and another presentation/discussion. Again, the evening ended around 9:30. This time, fully energized after the good food, I was awake enough to spend about an hour and a half in the pool area. I spent time in both the sauna and the hot tub alternatively, while reading a good book. It was very relaxing. Afterward I noticed a small group from the conference talking in one of the lobby's sitting areas. So, I went up to my room, changed, and went back down to talk. Most of the conversation was about the topics of the conference so again, I felt that I was learning more. After all but one other person had retired for the evening, my new friend Serge and I had time just to sit and chat. We talked about what we do for work, about our families, and our studies (Serge Loode is a PhD student and a research assistant at the Peace and Conflict Studies Center at the University of Queensland, Australia). We also had the opportunity to talk a little about cultural difference, mostly accents and what we call different things. It was 1:15 am when we decided we'd better go back to our rooms and sleep. We'd enjoyed the conversation so much that time had flown by.

Saturday- Saturday morning started off nicely. I met a few of my new acquaintances for breakfast (this time having time for the cook-to-order breakfast). We had nice light conversation and then checked out of the hotel and again boarded the shuttle to Creighton. The morning session was good with some table-top conversations and a "world cafe." This was all rather enjoyable and I was much more comfortable with what I was learning. The only frustrating part was that we were told to pick a conflict to discuss with only a few seconds to decide on one. So, the conversations we had about our topics, using the "new language" which we didn't really understand, wasn't so productive for most. It would have been helpful if they'd given us the chance to think on a conflict overnight and then also given us a sheet of printed definitions for the 17 conflict constructs which we were to use in explaining our conflict in a "new language." Overall, it was a nice morning. The conference ended at 12:30 and we were again shuttled to the hotel. Serge, Pam, and I had a nice lunch at an Italian bistro-type restaurant down the street about a block from our hotel and got to know each other a little more. The day ended with a long 3 1/2 hour ride back to Manhattan. We arrived back to the motor pool building about 6:30 pm.

After returning home my family and I went to dinner with our neighbors at Los Portillos (not by my suggestion although it is our favorite Mexican in Manhattan). Then I came home and quickly went to sleep. Today, I'm giving a talk on "Standing Strong in the World" at church. Tomorrow I start my Summer courses (stats, human needs, and social organization). Ugh...life goes on. The boys also have t-ball and baseball during June and July so this is just the beginning of a long summer!

*Click the title of this post for more information on the conference.*