About

The School of Cybernetics was established in early 2021 at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science as one of three Schools: Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics.

The School of Cybernetics is now the home of the 3A Institute, and is building upon the foundational work of 3Ai under the leadership of Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell. It carries forward the mission of 3Ai, to create a new branch of engineering to take AI-enabled cyber-physical systems safely, sustainably and responsibly to scale.

The School has three focus areas: the 3A Institute, Systems and Design. Each of these areas are establishing programs that blend education, research and engagement to create a new generation of practitioners who are custom-fit for the middle of the 21st century. The work of 3Ai is focused on cyber-physical systems – next generation technologies characterised by edge computing, sensing technologies, large datasets and connectivity and increasingly sophisticated learning algorithms. It explores not just the technology, but also the social, environmental, cultural, political and regulatory contexts these cyber-physical systems are being built within. Systems will build on the Australian National University’s distinctive history as a centre for systems thinking, providing critical skills to industries and sectors working with complexity. Design will focus on identifying, articulating, and growing a first-of-its-kind design competency, one that isn’t afraid to ask the question “We can build it, but should we?”. As a whole, the School of Cybernetics aims to equip people for the challenges of the future, so that we can all contribute to building a safe, sustainable and responsible world.

Why cybernetics?

Cybernetics started as a remarkable set of conversations that represented an attempt to constitute a new body of knowledge and a new discipline. These conversations were a clear and deliberate examination of the role of technology in our lives and revealed new kinds of possibilities for the future. Cybernetics offers a way of transcending disciplinary boundaries, of thinking in systems and ensuring that humans, technology and the environment are in the frame as technology advances and transforms the world around us. At the School of Cybernetics, we are curating the next set of conversations, and reimaging cybernetics for the middle of the 21st century. Will you join us in changing the world?