There is a growing interest in the idea of civic universities. It’s an idea which has a new resonance with many who believe its time for a reassessment of what a university is for(see my earlier blogs on From Green Academy to Ecological Universities and What is a University For?). I was particularly struck byContinue reading “CIVIC UNIVERSITIES and CIVIC RENEWAL”
Category Archives: Sustainability
IS ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY A TRANSFORMATIVE UNIVERSITY?
I once wrote a book review on effective executive sustainability leadership in our universities in which I declared that, in my experience, there were none who could live up to this accomplishment. I can now report that there is at least one: Michael M Crow, the President of Arizona State University. Today I listened toContinue reading “IS ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY A TRANSFORMATIVE UNIVERSITY?”
EDUCATION BEYOND THE HUMAN
We live in a moment of epochal precarity, amidst irreversible environmental catastrophe that is impacting all life on Earth. Signaling the end of human exceptionalism, this era calls for an urgent redefinition of what it is to be human and a reconfiguration of the relationship between human and Earth. How should education respond to aContinue reading “EDUCATION BEYOND THE HUMAN”
MAKE UNIVERSITIES MATTER
The text below is the opening page of a short and powerful guide on how universities can empower their students make a difference. I was really impressed by its argument and its 12 reasons why universities should address their purpose. Universities can help people step out of their comfort zone to make a difference. ItsContinue reading “MAKE UNIVERSITIES MATTER”
NEW WAYS of THINKING AND ACTING in the ANTHROPOCENE
Guest Blog by Barry Carney: MSc (Centre for Alternative Technology, UK); Change Agents UK research associate. In the age of the Anthropocene, we urgently need new ways of thinking and acting. Economists are predicting that biophysical limits will determine the post-growth world and, as things stand, this will be characterised by mass migration, profound naturalContinue reading “NEW WAYS of THINKING AND ACTING in the ANTHROPOCENE”
IDEAS FOR A GROWN-UP ECONOMY
As we enter week 8 of the lock down, along with thoughts of returning to work or sending children back to school, there is a growing chorus of voices talking about the need for a new form of economics. One of these voices is called the Wellbeing Alliance (WEALL for short: https://wellbeingeconomy.org/ ) WEALL isContinue reading “IDEAS FOR A GROWN-UP ECONOMY”
SHOULD UNIVERSITIES BE A FORCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD?
Imagine if a university totally reoriented itself around redeveloping its locality. It would only offer teaching and research directly relevant to this mission. It might bring in local employers, partner with private training providers, and only carry out research that would benefit its local communities.This idea by a leading consultancy firm was headlined in theContinue reading “SHOULD UNIVERSITIES BE A FORCE FOR SOCIAL GOOD?”
Transformative Change: How do we get there?
The pandemic lockdown is offering groups of like-minded individuals the opportunities to come together to talk sensibly and sensitively about our global futures. Here in Derbyshire the Climate Coalition group recently initiated a zoom conversation on why and how to create a “movement of movements” on climate change. It was a robust and creative sessionContinue reading “Transformative Change: How do we get there?”
The Intelligence Trap: Why do clever people make stupid mistakes?
I have argued that our universities are not yet addressing, at scale and urgency, some of the systemic existential issues of our time. We are currently facing the Covid-19 pandemic and our collective understanding of this crisis is woefully inadequate. And this underpins some of the ill-judged policy decisions made in response to its impact.Continue reading “The Intelligence Trap: Why do clever people make stupid mistakes?”
Our House is on fire
I have written in an earlier blog about Greta and my links with Sweden and its education system. I have also been honoured to work with Karl Henrik Robert the founder of the Natural Step a framework for sustainability (https://thenaturalstep.org/approach/ ). And, following the 2002 Earth Summit, I worked as a facilitator of an amazingContinue reading “Our House is on fire”
