Staff
Oct 17, 2025
Heather Coffman Wins the Prestigious Move Prize for the Discovery of the RD Starburst Move
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The discovery of a new move shines a light on the multidimensional nature of relationships in human thought. The Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI) is proud to announce the awarding of the Universal Move Prize to Heather K. Coffman, for her discovery of the RD Starburst Move, a novel move of relational cognition that extends the boundaries of how we see and structure connections in our world.
What Is the RD Starburst Move and Why Does It Matter?
The RD Starburst Move reveals that a single relationship can radiate outward to multiple identity pairs at once, rather than being limited to one-to-one connections.
Where earlier Moves such as the RD Barbell visualized simple relational pairs, Coffman’s insight shows that relationships often behave more like starbursts—multi-relational hubs linking several ideas, people, or systems simultaneously.
In essence, the RD Starburst Move demonstrates that relationships are rarely linear. Instead, they propagate in a pattern more like light, extending across domains and revealing the real-world complexity of thought, systems, and human interaction.
Why It Matters
This Move has practical implications for how people think, work, and solve problems. By seeing that one relationship (such as “cause and effect,” “mentor and student,” or “trust”) can connect multiple pairs, the RD Starburst Move helps us:
Understand complexity by seeing how one change affects many.
Build cross-domain insight by applying ideas from science, art, or daily life to one another.
Enhance creativity and foresight by mapping radiating relationships across systems.
Improve teamwork and empathy by recognizing how one bond can connect many perspectives.
Voices of Discovery
“Discovering a Move is like discovering a new axiom in geometry. It adds structure to the way we think,” said Dr. Derek Cabrera, Member of the Science Board of STSI. “Heather’s discovery of the RD Starburst shows us that relationships are not just singular. They radiate, ripple, and connect. It’s a structural insight into how cognition really works.”
“The RD Starburst came to me during an everyday moment,” said Heather Coffman, reflecting on her discovery. “I realized a single relationship could connect multiple things at once, like spokes from a hub. It’s a Move that reveals the true multidimensionality of thinking.”
Published and Recognized by the STSI Science Board
The discovery has been formally reviewed and published in the Journal of Systems Thinking (JoST) as “The RD Starburst Move: Announcement of Discovery for a New Cognitive Move in Systems Thinking.”
It was unanimously approved by the STSI Science Board’s New Moves Committee and is now officially recognized as the 203rd Move in the Universal Cognitive Moves Moves Registry and library, marking a significant contribution to the structural canon of human cognition.
Access the Paper and Learn More
Read the Paper: https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.54120/jost.v25i1.hczhx34
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About the Universal Move Prize
The Universal Move Prize is awarded by the Systems Thinking Standards Institute to recognize discoveries that meet strict cognitive and structural criteria, representing universal advances in how humans think.
Each new Move adds to the global grammar of cognition, helping people everywhere think with greater clarity and adaptability.
About the Systems Thinking Standards Institute (STSI)
STSI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to setting and advancing the global standard of systems thinking.
In partnership with Cabrera Lab and the Journal of Systems Thinking (JoST), STSI develops, validates, and promotes universal cognitive tools that empower individuals and organizations to think better, solve problems, and adapt to complexity.
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