Jay Wright Forrester was an American engineer, inventor, and professor who is widely recognized as the founder of the field of study called [[System Dynamics]]. Born on July 14, 1918, in Nebraska, Forrester had a remarkable career that spanned over several decades. Forrester completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ([[MIT]]) in 1940. During World War II, he worked on various defense projects, including radar technology development and operations research for the U.S. Air Force. In the late 1950s, Forrester began exploring the application of engineering principles to social systems and developed a new approach known as System Dynamics. This field aimed to understand complex interconnected systems and their dynamic behavior over time. His groundbreaking work focused on building computer models that could simulate and analyze social and economic systems. Forrester's most notable contribution was the development of a simulation model called "World3," which he created in collaboration with his students. World3 became widely known through his book "World Dynamics" published in 1971. The model simulated interactions between population growth, industrialization, pollution, resource depletion, food production, and other factors to understand global trends and their potential consequences. Through System Dynamics, Forrester aimed to provide policymakers with a better understanding of complex problems such as poverty, urbanization, pollution control, and resource management. He believed that by studying these systems holistically and considering feedback loops and time delays within them, more effective policies could be formulated. Forrester's work had a significant impact not only in academia but also in various fields such as economics, environmental studies, management science, public policy analysis, and sustainability. His ideas have been applied to address numerous real-world challenges globally. Throughout his career at MIT as a professor in the Sloan School of Management until his retirement in 1989, Forrester received numerous accolades and awards, including the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 1989. He continued to promote System Dynamics and its applications through his writings, lectures, and collaboration with colleagues. Jay Forrester passed away on November 16, 2016, at the age of 98. However, his legacy as the pioneer of System Dynamics lives on, with his work continuing to shape our understanding of complex systems and their behavior. # References ```dataview Table title as Title, authors as Authors where contains(authors, "Jay Forrester") or contains(authors, "Jay W. Forrester") or contains(authors, "Jay W Forrester") or contains(authors, "Jay Wright Forrester") ```