On 3 Nov 2013, I gave the opening keynote address to the combined annual conferences of the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crops Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) — over 3,000 researchers and experts from the US and around the world in attendance, and about 1,500 in … Continue reading Big Visions, Grand Challenges and Nagging Controversies: Navigating into the Anthropocene
Sustainability
The science and philosophy of maintaining human and natural systems
“A Fresh Start for Sustainable Development”
Note: A different, chattier version of this post was sent to WaveFront newsletter readers. The eight-point summary is the same. To read WaveFront, sign up at http://www.AtKisson.com. The new issue of the leading journal Development, under the new editorship of Tariq Banuri, is finally out! Much food for thought there. I have an essay in … Continue reading “A Fresh Start for Sustainable Development”
An Essential Guide through Unavoidable Techno-Babble (Review)
Book review by Alan AtKisson, republished from CSRNewswire In a minute, I am going to tell you why Elaine Cohen’s DōShorts Understanding G4: The Concise Guide to Next Generation Sustainability Reporting is a must-read for anybody working in sustainability. But first I need to give you some background. I have been a keen observer, and … Continue reading An Essential Guide through Unavoidable Techno-Babble (Review)
My To-Do List, Fall 2013 …
This page from my notebook (see photo) sums up the headlines on my to do list for the coming year: launching a new music album, building a global volunteer campaign for sustainability, participating in a number of important scientific processes, publishing a little book, and all the while continuing to do the usual consulting, training, … Continue reading My To-Do List, Fall 2013 …
Why Smartphones are Worse than Refrigerators
Got a smartphone? Take a look at it. Think “refrigerator.” That’s because a smartphone consumes more energy than a fridge. When I read this, in an article on Grist.org, I had a hard time a believing it. (Grist in turn links to this technical report, The Cloud Begins with Coal.) What about all those functions … Continue reading Why Smartphones are Worse than Refrigerators
Reintroducing “Believing Cassandra: The Music Album”
In preparation for the release of my first new studio album in fourteen years, I have been going through my previous catalog of albums, produced on CD and even ancient cassette tapes, and updating what is available to the new digital world. Amazingly (to me), it seems that one of those albums has become a … Continue reading Reintroducing “Believing Cassandra: The Music Album”
Having Coffee with my Father’s French Horn
As I continue re-integrating music into my professional life (the upcoming release of my most ambitious album ever is starting to feel more real), there occasionally come unexpected moments of wonder. Consider this French horn, which I have brought with me to this cafe. (I’m taking it in for appraisal.) This was my father’s French … Continue reading Having Coffee with my Father’s French Horn
The Green Economy: Boosted, Busted, or Blasting Off?
This post is adapted from AtKisson Group's WaveFront, a free newsletter that Alan's company sends to clients, friends, and ... well, anyone who wants it! Sign up at http://www.AtKisson.com. This article refers to a free global strategy review from the AtKisson Group's Sustainability Intelligence Unit that describes the basic concepts of the Green Economy, maps … Continue reading The Green Economy: Boosted, Busted, or Blasting Off?
A Tale of Two Conferences (science & policy)
Recently I keynoted at two conferences in the same week that both reflected the state of European dialogue on sustainability -- from two very different perspectives. The first, on Global Systems Science, seemed to me a major step forward on how systems thinking can be applied to sustainability issues. Attending this conference were not just … Continue reading A Tale of Two Conferences (science & policy)
Knowledge and Sustainability: The Global State of The Art
Recently I had the honor — and the amazingly complex challenge — of preparing a report for the new United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD), based in Incheon, Korea. The title of the report signals its state-of-the-art global breadth: “Knowledge, Capacity Building, and Networks for Sustainable Development: A Review.” This report has been published … Continue reading Knowledge and Sustainability: The Global State of The Art
Alan AtKisson 