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Purpose - To demonstrate that Bateson's path-breaking life and breakthrough thinking have directly (and indirectly) inspired a profound shift which has specific and practical effects in the physical world - as well as in the world of ideas. Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes an outstanding initiative inspired by Bateson's ideas and work. Findings - Colombia's Gaviotas, situated far from the traditional centers of power and prestige, is the scene of an extraordinary whole system's experiment which is successfully applying Batesonian ideas in a harsh and troubled setting. Colombia is a country where environmental degradation, violence and instability are rampant. The paper examines some of the successes already achieved in Gaviotas, the path that lies ahead and the new opportunities being pursued by the Gaviotas project's developers. The paper attempts to understand how scientists are actively using Bateson's epistemology in their work. Practical implications - This paper aims to enrich the Bateson memorial by demonstrating that cutting-edge ecological thinking, as pioneered by Bateson, is being applied around the globe in ways both surprising and profound. Originality/value - This paper identifies a unique attempt to manifest, in the most difficult circumstances, that Bateson's ecological concepts and values are not abstraction s and that change is a process which can occur in the most unlikely places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper seeks to present a proposal to change the form in which knowledge is produced in Colombia. Design/methodology/approach - Discusses the key issue - to transform the way in which the production of knowledge is currently taking place at the university level. Findings - To be able to increase the production of knowledge in this country there is a need to create bonds among industrial, governmental, and academic institutions. It is believed that this can be done by the development of a system capable of continuously forming researchers at a doctoral level. Originality/value - The paper puts forward a proposal for the construction of such a system based on the developments of organizational cybernetics. The proposal is based on the concept of autonomy which is crucial to solve this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]