Projects

up+gen: Creating 'Tracers' 

The Next Generation of Positive and Transformational Changemakers 

#invisiblesynchrony #digitalcommunication #mediatedcollaboration #humanstigmergy 

This video explores the inspiring journey of Jason Paul, a leading figure in parkour. It highlights how his passion, grit, and strategic use of online platforms built a lasting legacy, serving as a blueprint for turning passion into a lifelong pursuit and inspiring others.

Key Takeaways

• Grit and Determination: Jason Paul's success in parkour stemmed from his unwavering dedication and persistence, despite initial limitations in resources and mentorship. He learned primarily from static images on a website and painstakingly compared his technique to videos frame by frame.

• Growth Mindset: Jason embraced challenges and failures as learning opportunities, embodying the principles of a growth mindset. His progress was fueled by persistence and a willingness to learn from every attempt.

• Power of Sharing: Documenting and sharing his journey online, despite being a beginner, allowed Jason to connect with others, inspire them, and build a supportive community. This demonstrates the power of sharing one's progress, struggles, and successes, even at the initial stages.

• Digital Footprints and Community Building: Jason's story exemplifies how digital traces (online presence) can facilitate connections with like-minded individuals, create opportunities, and even shape identities. He used online platforms to build a community and share his passion.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Jason's creation of a parkour clothing brand showcases an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to take risks to nurture his passion and provide resources for his community. Profit wasn't the primary driver; it was about fueling passion and sharing it with the world.

@GENZJP: where 'tracers' in Japan meet

knowledge and skills sharing through 'human stigmergy'. Research project @templeunivjapan 

#transformationaldigitalleadership #stigmergynetwork #positivesocialchange

Title: Decentralized Solutions: Applying Human Stigmergy to Address Environmental Complex Challenges

Speaker: Robin Takashi Lewis, co-founder of mymizu & representative director of Social Innovation Japan

Date & Time: Wednesday, October 30th, 2024 18:00 to 20:00 JST

Venue: Temple University, Japan Campus

Overview: This seminar illustrates the power of human stigmergy to address complex environmental issues. Based on the Stigmergy Network Theory by Dr. Marvin Starominski-Uehara, Robin shares how intentional and random digital traces are reproduced by unknown and unconnected parties with minimal or no direct communication and coordination. In stigmergy networks, individuals are connected only through shared interests and only communicate and coordinate their actions through the traces they leave on digital environments. Robin demonstrates the power of these organic and ever-evolving connections of like-minded people through relevant and contemporary examples of individuals and organizations taking action online and offline to tackle urgent societal problems. Robin also breaks down this theory by asking the following questions to help participants grasp some of the nuances of operating and managing a complex task under a mediated communication and coordination environment:

(i) Autonomous Acts: What is an urgent problem you have seen, experienced, or witnessed in a community important to you? 

(ii) Reproducible Domains: What are the individuals and organizations you want to connect with? And how can you connect with them? 

(iii) Scalable Platforms: How can you amplify the impact of your actions? 

Learn with Robin how to build a collaborative and innovative network that enacts transformational change at scale while sparking mutual empowerment and leveraging your passion.  

Moderator: Marvin Starominski-Uehara (Temple University, Japan Campus)

This event was organized by Research, Temple University, Japan Campus. 

About TUJ: https://www.tuj.ac.jp 

Research and Creative Works at TUJ: https://www.tuj.ac.jp/research 

Event information: https://www.tuj.ac.jp/events/2024/1030/transformational-digital-leadership-hybrid

AI Summary: This video features a seminar on self-organizing sustainability, focusing on the role of technology in social change and community building. Robin Takashi leis, a social entrepreneur, shares his experiences and insights, illustrating how technology can be leveraged to address pressing global issues like plastic waste and environmental degradation. The presentation uses interactive exercises and real-world examples to engage the audience.

Key Takeaways

• Rapid Technological Advancement: The speaker highlights the rapid pace of technological progress and its potential to address urgent societal challenges. He uses examples such as the shift from flip phones to smartphones in just eight years.

• The Triangle of Inaction: This concept illustrates how citizens, companies, and institutions often blame each other for inaction on societal issues, hindering collective responsibility.

• Mymizu App: The speaker details his creation of the Mymizu app, a platform enabling users to locate free water refill stations, reducing plastic bottle usage. The app's success is attributed to its co-creative and open-source nature, fostering community engagement.

• Social Entrepreneurship and Systems Thinking: The speaker advocates for social entrepreneurship, combining business acumen with social impact. He emphasizes systems thinking—a holistic approach to understanding complex problems—as crucial for effective solutions.

• Scalable Platforms and Digital Change: The presentation underscores the power of digital platforms in amplifying messages for change, encouraging collaborative action and community building.