Fiscus and Fath webinar Sept. 2020

Dan Fiscus and Brian Fath presented an online seminar at SESYNC on Sept. 22, 2020 that covered their book from 2018 – Foundations for Sustainability. See the webinar recording online.

Foundations for Sustainability: A Coherent Framework of Life-Environment Relations

Abstract: This presentation reviews key concepts in sustainability and asks deep questions about why there are so many symptoms of environmental crises present in the world today (climate disruption, mass species extinctions, nitrogen cycle disruption, ocean acidification, crises with food, energy, and water, and many more). These symptoms relate to the prevailing approach, in which we use reductionist mental models and treat living and environmental systems as if they are mechanisms. However, contrary to machines, ecological systems show much resilience and capacity to self-organize, regenerate, increase their organization and complexity, and improve their environment over time. We propose that achieving a sustainable world will require a shift in the way we approach life and life sciences. The good news is that such a shift is possible now, without the need of waiting for new technologies, and is limited only by our willingness.