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Wicked Problems & Solutions

Alex Smith | 08.03.2011 04:37 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Energy Crisis | Sheffield

Wicked problems, like climate, energy, or economy - cannot be solved by normal science. A new synthesis interview with Thomas Homer-Dixon. Webcast by Jerome Ravetz, Valerie Brown on Post-Normal science & community. Plus Eben Moglen on dream of total free speech - now causing a revolution near you.

Ecoshock 110304 Wicked Problems - mp3 14M


We face "wicked problems" like climate change, peak oil, or an economy depending on ... call it "make-believe" or call it "fraud". Science cannot provide the answers. Social change is required - and that calls on all of us. It requires all of our minds and passions.

We start with a snapshot of the wicked problems we face, with one of my favorite synthesizers, Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon. He's the author of "The Ingenuity Gap" and the "Upside of Down". Homer-Dixon points out a failure of group consciousness, of our mind as a species.

In the second half hour, we'll hear from one of the leaders in "wicked science" or "post-normal science" - Dr. Jerome Ravetz of Oxford. He says science must expand beyond the university into common mind power.

Add in Australian community leader Valerie Brown. She explains "Transition Science" - the kinds of integrated knowledge and action we need, just to cope with the crisis of a complex society in trouble.

We'll end with a crazy idea. Maybe global human consciousness is already be developing, courtesy of social networking??

Alex Smith
- Homepage: http://www.ecoshock.org