Dear ECOLOGgers - this upcoming symposium is likely to interest many of you.
Ecology*Economics= ECO**2 http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/events/current_future_meetings/2014-annual-symposium-eco2/ The Two Sciences of Interaction At BMA house in London, 8 - 10 September, ecologists and economists will work together to explore the fundamental links between the two sciences of interactions. How many useful ideas must there be in ecology that have yet to be applied in economics, and vice versa? How much more could we discover about the human and social systems, or natural systems, by combining insights from these two subjects? It is crucial that these two fields work together to address the most pressing global challenges facing humanity. Economic policy could continue to seek welfare optimization through chasing a single approximating metric of success - GDP growth - if not for inevitable limits imposed by the Earth System. We could easily develop policies to solve every environmental problem, if not for inevitable limits on finance. What about issues like food security or the spread of infectious disease, which are fundamentally part ecological/part economic? A special flavour of Eco**2 is to examine the fundamental, conceptual links between our two fascinating sciences. These links are much deeper than most ecologists or economists appreciate and they must be explored if we are to address pressing global issues. But we'll not be shying away from discussing these issues either, whether it's climate change, global financial stability, food security, disease, inequality, human migration, or conservation. Venue We are delighted to be holding Eco**2 at the British Medical Association House, London, UK. BMA House is a spectacular Grade II listed building which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens; it has been home to the British Medical Association since 1925. Located only a few minutes' walk from Kings Cross, St Pancras, Euston and Russell Square stations, the fantastic location provides easy access around London, the rest of the UK and with Europe via Eurostar. Best wishes, Matthew Matthew Smith Scientist in the Computational Science Laboratory Microsoft Research Limited, email: matthew.sm...@microsoft.com<mailto:matthew.sm...@microsoft.com>; tel: +44(0)1223 479 784; Microsoft Research Limited (company number 03369488) is a company registered in England and Wales whose registered office is at 21 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2FB
