The Map the System competition at UNC offers students a unique educational experience, equipping them with the tools to analyze complex problems through systems thinking.
Unlike traditional pitch competitions, Map the System (MTS) uses deep research and mapping of existing problems to foster meaningful, systemic change. UNC-Chapel Hill’s Innovate Carolina has partnered with this organization to provide our students with unique experiences and networking opportunities on an international stage.
“Innovate Carolina has been a partner organization with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, the hosting organization for Map the System, for the past five years,” said Anise Robinson, Student Engagement and Events Program Manager at Innovate Carolina. “Our continued relationship provides UNC students with access to systems thinking course materials, opportunities to work with systems thinking faculty, and the opportunity to showcase their research on a global scale. Innovate Carolina is passionate about continuing to support this social innovation student competition.”
The 2024 UNC-Chapel Hill MTS student teams included Gillings students Lily Goldberg, Sarah Sutter and Sanjana Murthy of Breaking the Silence: The Untold Story of Women with PCOS and Endometriosis, who went on to the Global Finals and Banff Summit in Calgary, Canada. Each team member had the chance to learn directly from industry experts and collaborate with their peers during their time at the summit.
“Map the System – Canada was a fantastic experience to meet with other global experts in systems thinking. It was incredibly memorable to share our project with so many peers who are invested in bettering the health of communities globally,” said Lily Goldberg. “I was especially excited about the setting. Many of the sessions we participated in were outside and gave us a unique opportunity to connect systems thinking with the land we were on. I am so grateful to have had this experience and will always remember this trip with such great team members!”
The Banff Systems Summit, held from May 27-29, 2024, was a three-day event at the Banff Centre that focused on systems thinking to address global challenges. It included speeches, panel sessions, workshops, walkabouts and networking activities against a beautiful nature backdrop.
“Map the System – Canada was an especially unique and memorable opportunity to learn about systems thinking,” said Sanjana Murthy. “Banff provided a fantastic setting for us to discuss relational dynamics amongst people and our environment, especially since we had the opportunity to always look out of floor-to-ceiling windows and take in the breathtaking views around us.”
The summit gave the UNC MTS team a unique opportunity to learn from system thinking experts in their respective fields and explore a wide range of topics including healthcare systems, food security and sustainability through interactive & immersive experiences.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from experts in systems thinking as well as contribute to something larger than ourselves — the field of systems thinking,” said Sarah Sutter. “Banff allowed us to deeply explore how systems thinking operates in diverse environments and how we, as ourselves, show up to spaces to engage with others.”
The UNC team’s participation in the Global Finals and the Banff Summit underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the practical application of systems thinking in addressing global challenges. Their experience not only enriched their academic journey but also highlighted the potential for systemic change through innovative approaches.
| UNC-CH