Sep

The Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Age of Humans

The Anthropocene: Planet Earth in the Age of Humans

A one-day symposium sponsored by the Smithsonian’s Grand Challenges Consortia.

October 11, 2012 9:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C.

The world is changing at a rapid pace. Scientists have documented significant changes during the last century in climate, land-use and biodiversity that are unprecedented over the last thousand years. These changes are also occurring at a time of rapid social, economic, political and technological transformation. Although the Earth and its human occupation have always been characterized by change, the current rate and scale of these changes may be unparalleled by any time in the past since the beginning of civilization. Even the fields of literature and the arts are adapting as writers and artists grapple with unprecedented social and environmental upheavals.

A consensus has been reached that the tremendous scope of transformations now occurring on the Earth, with profound effects on plants, animals and natural habitats, is primarily the result of human activities. Geologists have proposed the term Anthropocene, or the “Age of Man,” for this new period in the history of the planet, which follows the relatively stable Holocene period. On a geological scale the planet has entered a new era. Natural processes that control the functioning of the planet have been interrupted, refashioned, or accelerated over the last thousand years by human civilization. No longer can nature be studied or understood in isolation from the human world.

In order to address the arrival and the impact of the Anthropocene through the lenses of science, society and culture, the Smithsonian’s Grand Challenges Consortia is hosting a symposium on October 11, 2012 to discuss, debate, and deliberate on these issues of change. Four talks will address issues of global change from the perspectives of history, art, culture, philosophy, economics and science. Each of these presentations will be followed by responses from an interdisciplinary panel of scholars that will foster a wide-ranging discussion of the issues. The day will conclude with a summation by a respected public leader.

Speakers include:

Charles C. Mann – correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, Science, and Wired; author of the books 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus and 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

Sabine O’Hara – Dean, College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia

Richard Alley – Professor of Geosciences at Pennsylvania State University and author of Earth: The Operators’ Manual

Chris Jordan – Artist based in Seattle who explores contemporary mass culture from a variety of photographic and conceptual perspectives

The Hon. Timothy E. Wirth – President of the United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund; first Undersecretary for Global Affairs for the U.S. Department of State; former Congressman and Senator from Colorado

The event is free and open to the public. All are welcome, but space is limited.

RSVP to Consortia@si.edu to receive a ticket. Program details available: www.si.edu/consortia