Guest Speaker Paul Ehrlich podcast now available

The podcast for the presentation by Professor Paul Ehrlich is now available for download.

Prof. Paul R. Ehrlich

The Environment Institute and the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University presented Professor Paul Ehrlich, Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University on Thursday 21 March 2013 in Canberra.

The presentation Avoiding a collapse of civilisation – our chances, prospects and pathways forward discussed population growth and its effect on the environment.

Paul Ehrlich is the Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University, president of Stanford’s Centre for Conservation Biology and Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney. By training he is an entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera (butterflies), but he is also a prominent ecologist and demographer. Ehrlich is best known for his dire warnings about population growth and limited resources. He became well-known after publication of his controversial 1968 book The Population Bomb.

Listen to the presentation.

ABSTRACT

Environmental problems have contributed to numerous collapses of civilizations in the past. Now, for the first time, a global collapse appears possible and at the same time avoidable. Population growth supercharged by significantly increasing consumption interacting with our choices of technologies are major drivers. Dramatic cultural change provides the main hope of averting calamity.

Paul and Anne Ehrlich have written a paper on how humanity’s global civilisation is threatened with collapse by an array of environmental problems. In this special presentation, Professor Ehrlich gave a talk about his recent conclusions.

Professor Ehrlich was  joined by leading ecological scientists to participate in an in-depth panel discussion. The panel extended and discussed Professor Ehrlich’s topics as they relate to sustainability politics in Australia, broaching controversial topics from food and energy supply to the politics of greed. How much scientific evidence underlies our national decision-making?

The panel included Professor Corey Bradshaw from the Environment Institute, Professor David Lindenmayer from ANU, and Professor Graham Pyke from University of Technology Sydney. Professor Stephen Dovers, Director of the Fenner School of Environment, chaired the panel session.

Paul Ehrlich to present special seminar in Canberra on 21st March

The Environment Institute & Fenner School of Environment & Society at the Australian National University present a special presentation by Professor Paul Ehrlich in Canberra on Thursday 21st March 2013.

The talk is titled ‘Avoiding a collapse of civilisation – our chances, prospects and pathways forward.’ Professor Ehrlich will then be joined by leading ecological scientists to participate in an in-depth panel discussion. The panel will extend and discuss Professor Ehrlich’s topics as they relate to sustainability politics in Australia. They will broach controversial topics from food and energy supply to the politics of greed. How much scientific evidence underlies our national decision-making?

Where: Manning Clarke Centre Lecture Theatre 1 Building 26A, ANU, Canberra, Australia
Time: 7:15pm
When: Thursday 21st March 2013
RSVP: This event is free, registration is essential. Register here

Prof. Paul R. Ehrlich

ABSTRACT

Environmental problems have contributed to numerous collapses of civilizations in the past. Now, for the first time, a global collapse appears possible and at the same time avoidable. Population growth supercharged by significantly increasing consumption interacting with our choices of technologies are major drivers. Dramatic cultural change provides the main hope of averting calamity.

Paul and Anne Ehrlich have written a paper on how humanity’s global civilisation is threatened with collapse by an array of environmental problems. In this special presentation, Professor Ehrlich will give a talk about his recent conclusions.

Professor Ehrlich will then be joined by leading ecological scientists to participate in an in-depth panel discussion. The panel will extend and discuss Professor Ehrlich’s topics as they relate to sustainability politics in Australia. They will broach controversial topics from food and energy supply to the politics of greed. How much scientific evidence underlies our national decision-making?

The panel includes Professor Corey Bradshaw from the Environment Institute, Professor David Lindenmayer from ANU, and Professor Graham Pyke from University of Technology Sydney. Professor Stephen Dovers, Director of the Fenner School of Environment will chair the panel session.

About the speaker

Paul Ehrlich is the Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of Biological Sciences at Stanford University, president of Stanford’s Center for Conservation Biology and Adjunct Professor, University of Technology, Sydney. By training he is an entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera (butterflies), but he is also a prominent ecologist and demographer. Ehrlich is best known for his dire warnings about population growth and limited resources. He became well-known after publication of his controversial 1968 book The Population Bomb.

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Paul Ehrlich in Adelaide

While in Australia, Paul Ehrlich will headline ‘The Planet Talks’ series at WOMADelaide on Monday March 11th.

The Planet Talks is a series of environmentally-focused discussions and panels – a legacy of the WOMAD Earth Station event staged in 2011 and now a part of WOMADelaide. The Talks will focus on the core fundamentals of Food Security & Sustainability, Activism & Change and Population Growth.

Professor Ehrlich will participate in a ‘one on one’ discussion on Population & Consumption with the host of the ABC’s The Science Show, Robyn Williams.

Find out more about Paul Ehrlich at WOMADelaide

 

 

Paul Ehrlich to headline ‘The Planet Talks’ program at WOMADelaide

WOMADelaide has announced the full program for its innovative Planet Talks program. The festival is to be held in Adelaide 8-11 March 2013.

The Planet Talks is a series of environmentally-focused discussions and panels – a legacy of the WOMAD Earth Station event staged in 2011 and now a part of WOMADelaide. The Talks will focus on the core fundamentals of Food Security & Sustainability, Activism & Change and Population Growth.

The highlight of The Planet Talks will be a ‘one on one’ discussion on Population & Consumption between host of the ABC’s The Science Show, Robyn Williams and esteemed American author and biologist, Paul Ehrlich.

Biologist and Bing Professor of Population Studies at Stanford University, Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 book The Population Bomb, reignited the population debate and brought the issue into mainstream debates in the 1960s. Ehrlich is still considered to be one of the world’s most powerful voices warning about the impact of spiraling population growth on the limited resources of the planet, even 45 years after the book’s original publication.

WOMADelaide will hold seven Planet Talks sessions throughout the festival weekend.

From the Saturday until the Monday of the festival, each day will see two sessions held in Speakers Corner in Botanic Park. Saturday will cover ‘Taking Care of our Own Patch’ and ‘Food Security& Sustainability’, Sunday;‘Can Government Rise to the Challenge of Climate Change?’ and ‘Activism & Slacktivism’ and Monday ‘Population & Consumption’ and ‘The Elephant in the Room: The Limits to Growth.’

The Planet Talks speaker program also includes Environment Institute members Professor Corey Bradshaw and Professor Randy Stringer.

The full list of speakers and the program can be found on the WOMADelaide website – http://www.womadelaide.com.au/

WOMADelaide are  offering discounted tickets to Environment Institute members. These can be accessed online and by using the code planet talks.

While in Australia, Professor Ehrlich will also be giving a presentation in Canberra in late March. More details will be made available on the Environment Institute website soon.

 

 

 

The Tightrope: A Millennium Assessment of Human Behaviour

Listen to Paul Ehrlich give his public seminar The Tightrope: A Millennium Assessment of Human Behaviour.

The Environment Institute was proud to present Professor Paul Ehrlich’s  final seminar The Tightrope: A Millennium Assessment of Human Behaviour on Thursday 11 November at the University of Adelaide.

Professor Paul Ehrlich is one of the world’s leading experts on population and is renowned for his role in helping the world to think about resource scarcity and the impact of an ever-increasing population on demand for natural resources.  Paul is particularly well know for his work on overpopulation, and in particular, his seminal work The Population Bomb.

Paul Ehrlich was in Adelaide during November to present a series of free public seminars.

Visit our website to download other Paul Ehrlich seminars.

Darwin’s Mistake: Creationism, Cultural Evolution and Conservation

Listen to Paul Ehrlich speak about Charles Darwin, creationism, cultural evolution and conservation.

The Environment Institute was pleased to present Professor Paul Ehrlich, one of the world’s leading experts on population, who is visiting Adelaide during November.  Paul presented his first of three seminars at the University of Adelaide titled: “Darwin’s Mistake: Creationism, Cultural Evolution and Conservation”.

Download audio-visual material from this event.

Paul will also be presenting two free public seminars next week:

Population, Resources and the Environment: Where We Stand Now
Tuesday 9 November, 6pm-7:30pm at the Adelaide Town Hall

The Tightrope: A Millennium Assessment of Human Behaviour
Thursday 11 November, 5:30pm-6:30pm at the University of Adelaide

Bookings are essential, but you need to hurry as seats are booking fast!

This event is now SOLD OUT