Generation Anthropocene

Filmmaker Mike Freedman explains the creative process behind his debut documentary, Critical Mass. His film explores how the growing population alters the social and psychological environment, and the challenges of equality in a world of 7 billion people.

Curator for the Museum of PostNatural History in Pittsburgh, PA and assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon, Richard (Rich) Pell describes a new way for us to view how humans control the evolutionary path of other organisms - the growing field of PostNaturalism. Pell walks us through his museum, explains how he arrived at the concept of postnaturalism, and shares some of the surprising reactions his visitors experience along the tour.

Climate researcher and host of PBS's Earth: The Operators' Manual Richard Alley discusses abrupt climate variations in Earth's history and what he defines as climate tipping points - leading to a discussion on whether or not Earth's climate systems has dials, or switches. He also addresses the socio-economic costs of climate change and why he's optimistic about our energy future, with links to salted cod in the 1700s. Alley also reflects on the role of scientists as advocates with some interesting implications for Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.

Co-founder of the Breakthrough Institute Michael Shellenberger discusses the cultural relevance of the Anthropocene and why it's a term that so many people have adopted. He also addresses the complex topic of climate change, how he deals with climate uncertainty, and spends some time reflecting on whether or not climate change scares him.

Expert in natural resources law and policy Buzz Thompson starts with a story of how his grandfather was tricked into selling his farm to the city of Los Angeles so they could get access to water on his land. He then dives into water security and discusses the true cost of water, the complications in the US water law system, and what it was like to clerk for Justice William Rehnquist (which, it turns out, happened to involve quite a bit of tennis).

Food security expert David Lobell takes us around the world to give us a taste of the global food production system. He discusses the wide range of problems our changing climate will have on our food security and the prospects for creating a sustainable food system in the future.

Former HP executive Debra Dunn discusses the (hopefully) changing role of the modern entrepreneur to one committed to positive social & environmental impacts in addition to profits. She also addresses the increasing emphasis on the individual as opposed to the community and the sorts of problems this emphasis brings. And finally, while reflecting on what she views as the greatest social injustices in the Anthropocene, Debra Dunn takes us to Cuba and the "grand egalitarian experiment" with some surprising revelations on culture, the arts and even the healthcare system.

Biological anthropologist James Holland Jones explains how diseases typically spread from animal to human populations and how that might change as our planet continues to warm. He also discusses how we might prevent future epidemics with limited vaccines by looking to community structure and identifying the key bridge populations. Without getting too apocalyptic... ok fine, getting a little apocalyptic... Jones also looks to diseases of the past to pick the one that is most likely to be a serious problem in the future, hemorrhagic fever hopefully not included. Hypochondriacs beware, it's all infectious disease on this episode of Generation Anthropocene!

Agroecologist and Dean of Stanford University's School of Earth Sciences Pam Matson discusses her agricultural research in the Yaqui Valley and how it relates to the Green Revolution. She also reflects upon the politics of sustainable agriculture and how we might go about feeding the 9 billion people we expect in the coming decades. As a final thought, she offers some advice to those who are coming of age in the Anthropocene, and why we shouldn't waste our time trying to assign blame.

Geophysicist and US Energy Council advisor Mark Zoback sets the record straight on the science of hydro-fracking to free shale gas. He addresses many misconceptions he feels the public weigh too heavily and offers his view on the crucial role natural gas plays as a bridge to renewable energy. Mark also looks to some critiques of the nuclear energy sector (including Fukushima) and finds intriguing parallels to the shale gas revolution.

Biologist Luis Zambrano discusses his work in wetland and ecosystem restoration in Mexico City and a rare salamander threatened by development (the Axolotl). Seriously, if you like looking at cute things, google the Axolotl. In fact, this rare salamander embodies a particularly powerful cultural symbol, leading to an interesting discussion of the Anthropocene as a cultural boundary.

The chief scientist for The Nature Conservancy Peter Kareiva challenges historical landscapes as the goal of conservation, discusses how to develop econometrics in the Anthropocene, and how he uses science to build an unbiased view of nature. He also takes a brief moment to address his public image as something of a provocateur.

With all of the attention paid to global climate change and the disruption of the carbon cycle, Peter Vitousek discusses the serious impacts humankind has had on the nitrogen cycle and how that relates to our food system. He expands on the modern food production system as the primary driver of land use change, and explains just what he means when he says he wants to make the world a less homogeneous place with some interesting cultural implications.

History is accelerating.  As we move farther into the Anthropocene, we must ask ourselves what we want for the planet today and what will we preserve for the next generation.  But how do we know where to place our conservation efforts in this new geologic age? About two months ago, the Generation Anthropocene team was invited to Santa Cruz, CA for a reunion for the Leopold Leadership Program.  It's a program that helps environmental researchers prepare to translate "knowledge to action" to lead change on the world's most pressing sustainability challenges, and it's full of really smart people.  In this episode, we revisit the history of conservationism and bring you excerpts from our interviews with a half dozen experts, covering everything from frogs to invasive species to shades of green to a funny-looking Mexican salamander (that apparently doesn't taste half bad). The debate over why to save nature goes back over a hundred years, but it has never been more relevant than it is now in the Anthropocene - where we're calling the shots. Download Episode (Right-click and select Save Link As...)

Climate scientist-turned-legal scholar Michael Wara discusses the nuts and bolts of greenhouse gas reduction programs and questions the value of the long-standing search for a one-size-fits-all, silver bullet solution. He makes a case for small-scale experimentation when dealing with climate change and offers a few thoughts on why bad political ideas just never die.