Abstract for: Saving the World with Models? System Dynamics Models on and across Global, Regional, and Country Scales

Many grand challenges and complex policy issues require urgent action. System Dynamics (SD) is a systems modelling and simulation approach that is useful for dealing with truly grand challenges. It has been used for such purposes ever since the first Limits to Growth study. Lately, supplementary and complementary approaches, including Agent-Based Modelling and AI have been suggested to be needed for dealing with grand challenges. While methodological diversity is enriching and should be welcomed, SD should not stand on the sideline. SD has important strengths and advantages. Some shortcomings need to be dealt with though. This paper builds on recent SD modelling for dealing with grand challenges and discusses solutions to some of the shortcomings. We argue that - for dealing with grand challenges - SD modelling among else needs to embrace modelling with building blocks, data-rich modelling, multi-scale modelling, simulation under deep uncertainty, and needs to work on getting the message across. Finally, we call the System Dynamics community to redirect their attention towards grand challenges – to do daring studies that matter and share our associated research agenda.