Guest Blog by Dr Nicholas Maxwell, Science and Technology Studies, UCL The world is in a state of crisis. Global problems that threaten our future include: the climate crisis; the destruction of natural habitats, catastrophic loss of wildlife, and mass extinction of species; lethal modern war; the spread of modern armaments; the menace of nuclearContinue reading “We Need a Revolution in Universities to Help Humanity Solve Global Problems”
Category Archives: cognitive science
PROJECT BASED LEARNING
A recent book from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights how universities are not providing the majority of their students with the critical thinking skills required by employers. In their study analysing data from the US, UK, Italy, Mexico, Finland and China, 45 per cent of students were found to be proficient in criticalContinue reading “PROJECT BASED LEARNING”
REGENERATIVE CULTURES:LEARNING AND UNLEARNING
In an earlier blog I suggested that we are beginning to see evidence of avoiding using the word “sustainability.” “Sustainability is steadily falling into disrepute, mainly because of its reformist piecemeal applications, which exclude wholesale systems change.” In its place terms such as “regenerative paradigms” have come into play. In its broadest sense this encompassesContinue reading “REGENERATIVE CULTURES:LEARNING AND UNLEARNING”
HOSPICING OUR UNIVERSITIES IN DECLINE
In this the third of my most recent blogs on the theme of a University for the Common Good – I reflect on the decline of our current model of the University and how the concept of “hospicing a habit of being” coined by Stein et al(2020) might enable those of us who have arguedContinue reading “HOSPICING OUR UNIVERSITIES IN DECLINE”
NEW ECONOMY based on NEW SYSTEMS
The role of human agency is an essential element of the authors of this new books analyses, evaluations, and prescriptions. If humanity is to live in harmony with itself, with other creatures, and in balance with the planet’s ecological systems, then we must be clear about what we can and cannot do, and what weContinue reading “NEW ECONOMY based on NEW SYSTEMS”
Rotterdam citizens concerned with air quality form a club
They will be measuring air quality as a citizen-driven science project Over 400 citizens of Rotterdam have already registered in a special club dedicated to air quality and called Luchtclub. Part of the activities of the club is the measurement of air pollution on the street with particulate matter sensors. The club aligns with a five-decade-oldContinue reading “Rotterdam citizens concerned with air quality form a club”
REGENERATIVE THINKING and AGENCY
By Josie Warden RSA Today, our path has reached a cliff edge. As a species we are disrupting the balance of our Earth and undermining the systems that make our home liveable. At the same time, we are extracting from and exploiting one another. Despite the wealth and technology available in the world today, millionsContinue reading “REGENERATIVE THINKING and AGENCY”
THE PARALYSIS OF TRUTH IN PRACTICE
Epistemic vices which nullify epistemic virtues In May 2020, I LIKE TRAINS the Leeds based indie band shared a brand new single, The Truth, which was the first single from their upcoming album, KOMPROMAT. The inspiration behind KOMPROMAT, is a social as well as a conceptual representation of the current and ongoing theme ofContinue reading “THE PARALYSIS OF TRUTH IN PRACTICE”
HOW ALL LIFE IS INTERCONNECTED AND WHY IT MATTERS
There is currently a burgeoning literature on our life support system-the biosphere. Moreover, it is coming at a time when we are being alerted to an eco-apocalyptic countdown but with little understanding of how and when a global tipping point will impact on our very survival. For the first time in our history, we canContinue reading “HOW ALL LIFE IS INTERCONNECTED AND WHY IT MATTERS”