[ECOLOG-L] Just Released a 9-Part Video Series on Systems Thinking
Greetings folks, I teach systems thinking as an analytical tool in many of my food & environmental classes. After years of struggling to find useful and accessible multimedia content on systems thinking, I finally produced a 9-part video series outlining my sense of the discipline. I figured others might find this useful, so thought I would pass along links to the videos, which are all hosted on YouTube (ad-free). Most are around 15 minutes, though a couple are longer. This is my first crack at video production, so I would love your feedback. An Introduction to Systems Thinking <https://youtu.be/8LhEyDQYUjc><https://youtu.be/8LhEyDQYUjc><https://youtu.be/8LhEyDQYUjc>Part 1: Getting Started<https://youtu.be/8LhEyDQYUjc> <https://youtu.be/cZFNQV6oh7Y><https://youtu.be/cZFNQV6oh7Y>Part 2: System Structure<https://youtu.be/cZFNQV6oh7Y> <https://youtu.be/pTeMG61Dv6Y>Part 3: System Relationships and Causation<https://youtu.be/pTeMG61Dv6Y> <https://youtu.be/BrUG-uva4W4>Part 4: Feedback Loops<https://youtu.be/BrUG-uva4W4> <https://youtu.be/Jx5s4q9Xsjg>Part 5: Hierarchies<https://youtu.be/Jx5s4q9Xsjg> <https://youtu.be/EbduGye_ADU>Part 6: System Mapping<https://youtu.be/EbduGye_ADU> <https://youtu.be/JeXGXqWVE6U>Part 7: System Organization<https://youtu.be/JeXGXqWVE6U> <https://youtu.be/06XbNOLyBUU>Part 8: System Intervention<https://youtu.be/06XbNOLyBUU> <https://youtu.be/W5LnRHZ3AJc>Part 9: Wrap-Up<https://youtu.be/W5LnRHZ3AJc> I would love to produce more educational videos like these, and will if I can attract more support to my Patreon page<http://www.patreon.com/ericgarza/>. I offer my patrons a variety of rewards, including access to video summaries, discussion questions, class activities, and other complementary materials designed to support the use of my videos in educational settings. I will release some of the materials associated with this video series in August, and the rest in September. All the best, Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
Re: [ECOLOG-L] Attacks on the Credibility of Scientists
I myself have not experienced this, but Roger Pielke Jr. talked about his direct experience with this when I had him on my podcast last fall. Folks can listen here: Episode 15: Roger Pielke Jr. on Science in Policy and Politics<http://ericgarza.info/episode-15/> Cheers, Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news on behalf of John A. Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 12:24 PM To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Attacks on the Credibility of Scientists The Flint water crisis demonstrated that some public officials are willing to make false statements in an attempt to discredit science conducted in the public interest—especially if the results of that science expose failure and neglect on the part of those officials. In some cases these officials have attacked the credibility of individual scientists in an attempt to deflect attention from their own professional lapses. I would be interested to hear from anyone on the list who has experienced similar attacks on their professional credibility—whether as faculty, graduate students, agency scientists or independent researchers. I will keep all replies in strictest confidence. Please contact me off-list with my thanks in advance. - J. A.
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast episode dedicated to Daniel Quinn (1935-2018)
I suspect that at least some on this list are familiar with the work of author Daniel Quinn. Among the books he wrote were the novels Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael. Ishmael, in these books, is a telepathic gorilla that serves as teacher to various human characters and who, through the Socratic method, invites them to explore and question many sacred assumptions about human society and human history. I know of at least one environmental course here at the University of Vermont that uses Ishmael as required reading, and suspect that other institutions represented here might use it as well in various classes. Speaking for myself, I found Quinn's books, and his Ishmael trilogy in particular, incredibly insightful and inspiring. An odd thing to say about a novel I suppose, particularly on a listserv populated mainly by scientists. I started a podcast last summer that deals with various environmental and social themes. Daniel Quinn was at the top of the list of folks I wanted to reach out to about recording an episode, and when I reached out to him he said he would love to come on. He was in the middle of a book project though, and wanted to finish the manuscript and find a publisher before he scheduled any new interviews. So he promised to reach out to me in early 2018, as he was confident he would have everything squared away by then. Just a few weeks ago I saw a Facebook post from his wife that shocked me. She announced he died on February 17, 2018 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 82. I spent a few weeks reflecting on the various ways Daniel Quinn's work inspired me, and just released an episode that put some of those thoughts together. I also tie themes from Quinn's Ishmael trilogy with those from a recent film I also found compelling: Marvel's Black Panther. Folks can listen to the episode on most pod catchers (iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.), and also at the following link: Episode 67: Telepathic Gorillas, Black Panthers, and Confronting the Realities of Colonialism<http://ericgarza.info/episode-67/> Comments and feedback are welcome, as always. All the best! Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast Episode Featuring Food & Environment Writer Raj Patel
I've been teaching at the nexus of food, energy & environment for several years at this point. In one of my classes a few years ago I used a book called Stuffed and Starved, written by Raj Patel, to coax students to think hard about how people in a wealthy country like the United States can suffer from obesity and malnutrition at the same time. Raj is a prolific writer, and I think his newest offering (with co-author Jason Moore) is destined to top Stuffed and Starved in terms of the solid critique it offers not just about food, but about our modern economic system more generally. The new book's title is A History of the World in 7 Cheap Things, and it really takes a systems view of how capitalism, as an economic paradigm, cheapens the value of nature, labor, food, money, energy, healthcare, and ultimately lives. I had a chance to chat with Raj about his new book, and that conversation became today's episode of my podcast. This one was a lot of fun! I'll offer a link to download or stream from my website, but of course folks can also download and listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc. Among the topics covered are how capitalism, as an economic system, never pays its bills (i.e. externalities), why capitalism and colonialism are so closely linked, how capitalism is characterized by ‘othering’ things that are ‘wild’, and how the cheapening of food is a political tool used to perpetuate social hierarchies. Episode 48: Capitalism, Colonialism, and the Cheapening of the World, with Raj Patel<http://ericgarza.info/episode-48/> As always, commends, feedback, and shares are welcome. I'd particularly like to see folks who download & listen through iTunes leave me a review, as I don't seem to have many of those quite yet. Best wishes! Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Border Militarization and Climate Migration
Greetings folks. For a while now I've found the climate denialism on display by the Trump Administration intriguing. Trump ran on a platform of climate change denial, which proved to be a solid strategy to not only win the GOP nomination but also the presidency. While he has since installed some climate deniers in important positions (Scott Pruitt as head of EPA, for example), he isn't consistent in this regard. James Mattis, current Secretary of Defense and another Trump appointee, openly cites climate change as a national security challenge and the US Department of Defense continues to incorporate climate change scenarios in military planning (as it's been doing since 2003, perhaps even before). Are these discrepancies a sign of conflict within the Trump Administration, or are they evidence of a smoke screen the Administration uses to appease its base while it plans for a reality it sees as undeniable? I happen to have a podcast called A Worldview Apart<http://ericgarza.info/podcast/>, and thought it would be useful (and fun) to dedicate an episode to this issue. To that end I reached out to Todd Miller, a journalist and author of the book Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security, to talk about this. Our conversation made for a great episode, and folks can listen or download it from my website at the link below, or on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, YouTube, and other places. Feel free to share with friends and colleagues, if you feel so inspired. Episode 36: Border Militarization and Climate Migration, with Todd Miller<http://ericgarza.info/episode-36/> If folks enjoy this episode, I hope you'll consider signing on to support my podcast on Patreon, the crowd-funding website I use to raise revenue and keep episodes free of advertising. Listeners can contribute as little as $1 per month if that's all you can spare, and I'm grateful for all the support I get. You can learn more about how to sign on as a patron on my Patreon page<http://www.patreon.com/ericgarza/>. Cheers, Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast episode on the energetics of nature, mythology, and cultural momentum
Greetings folks. I just released a podcast episode I thought some on this list might enjoy. Dr. Peter Fox and I talk about his book Operating System Nature, and spend a good amount of time on a subject that's near and dear to my heart: the energetics of ecosystems. Here's a link, though you can also listen on YouTube, iTunes, and other podcast apps: Episode 34: Dr. Peter Fox on the Energetics of Nature, Mythology, and Cultural Momentum<http://ericgarza.info/episode-34/> We also talk about creation myths, and how so many of them incorporate stories of human physical degeneration following the adoption of agriculture. An example is how the Book of Genesis describes Eve being cursed to endure painful childbirth after she and Adam were exiled from the Garden of Eden and forced to raise their food by the sweat of their brow (a story interpreted by some as signifying the transition from a hunter-gatherer/horticultural people to an agriculture based on annual cereal grain). Dr. Fox talks about archeological evidence that suggests the transition to agriculture caused the birth canal in agricultural people to become smaller, making childbirth more painful and increasing the likelihood of death during childbirth. I had a lot of fun with this episode, I have to admit. I hope folks enjoy it. Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] An interview of environmental writer Richard Manning
Greetings folks, I teach food system courses at the University of Vermont, and among my best received classes is The Real Cost of Food. In this class I facilitate students' investigations of the many social and environmental costs associated with current models of food production, distribution and consumption. In that class I use environmental writer Richard Manning's book Against the Grain as the intro text, a book that takes a very thoughtful and critical look at the broad impacts and implications of agriculture as a means of procuring food. This morning I released a conversation I recently had with Richard as an episode of my podcast, A Worldview Apart<http://ericgarza.info/podcast/>. I'll offer a link to the episode on my website, though it's also available for download on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, etc. Episode 31: Richard Manning on Looking Critically at Agriculture<http://ericgarza.info/episode-31/> Our conversation ranges widely. We start by discussing the tendency of agricultural systems to feed elites in society quite well while leaving the majority of people malnourished, whether there is such a thing as sustainable agriculture, and our contemporary need to balance healthcare costs against the cost of food. As always, comments and feedback are welcome. And feel free to share in your networks, if you're so inspired. All the best, Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast episode on raising insects for human consumption
Many on this list are interested in exploring ways to reduce the impact associated with producing food. One approach that is increasingly recognized as valuable throughout the world-- particularly by the United Nations<http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e00.htm>--is turning to insects as a nutritious and sustainable source of animal protein. In the most recent episode of my podcast A Worldview Apart<http://ericgarza.info/podcast/>, I talk with Wendy Lu McGill, a sociologist by training who worked in International Development for years before returning to the US to start Colorado's first micro ranch. She's founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Micro Ranch<http://rmmr.co> where she raises crickets, mealworms, and waxworms for human consumption. As someone who's long had an interest in entomophagy (technical term for eating insects), this was a fun interview to record! Episode 17: Wendy Lu McGill on Reclaiming Insects as Food<http://ericgarza.info/episode-17/> In addition to following the link to my website to download or listen to the episode, you can also listen on iTunes, Stitcher, Google play, and on YouTube. All the best, Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] The interplay between science, policy and politics
Greetings folks, I've taught in the realm of energy, environment, and food systems for years. One of the biggest challenges I've faced is teaching students how to wade through the morass of often conflicting expert opinion, and a tool I've found extraordinarily useful for this is a framework offered by Roger Pielke Jr. in his book The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics. Roger joined me to talk about this topic in the latest episode of my podcast A Worldview Apart. Perhaps not surprisingly, the politics and politicization of climate science came up. Folks can download and/or listen to the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and on my website at the following link: Episode 15: Roger Pielke Jr. on Science in Policy and Politics<http://ericgarza.info/episode-15/> Comments and feedback are welcome. I also invite folks to share the episode in their social networks. Finally, I'm trying to drum up some support for my podcast on the crowd funding website Patreon. Folks can sign on to support A Worldview Apart for as little as $1 per month by visiting my Patreon page<http://www.patreon.com/ericgarza> and creating an account, which just takes a minute. The first 100 patrons are usually the hardest to get, so I'd love some help reaching that milestone. All the best! Eric Garza, PhD Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont Burlington, VT 05405 Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Walter Poleman on Having a Sense of Place
Greetings folks, I just released a podcast episode where I talked about place-based education with University of Vermont ecologist Walter Poleman. Walter directs the Place-based Landscape Analysis and Community Engagement (PLACE) program here at UVM. We talk about the meaning of place, how it relates to the local food movement, and what it means for people to engage in the ecologies of the landscapes in which they live. You can listen to the episode on my website here: Episode 12, Walter Poleman on Having a Sense of Place<http://ericgarza.info/episode-12/>, or on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, and other podcast apps. Rather than selling advertising, I have a Patreon campaign to help cover the costs associated with producing my podcast. I invite folks who enjoy A Worldview Apart to visit my Patreon page<http://www.patreon.com/ericgarza> and offer some support. You can pledge as little as $1 per month, so the costs to individual 'patrons' can be negligible but if enough folks sign on it can add up. Comments and questions are welcome. Ideas about future ecologically-themed guests are also welcome! Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast Interview with Agroecologist Steve Gliessman
Greetings folks, I recently took the International Agroecology Shortcourse offered through the University of Vermont, and had a chance to sit down with Steve Gliessman, who was one of the instructors in the course and a well known figure in agroecology, to record an interview for my podcast. I thought I'd share a link for those interested in the intersection of agriculture and ecology: Towards an Ecology of Agriculture: An Interview with Steve Gliessman<http://ericgarza.info/steve-gliessman-ep-8/>. Comments and feedback are welcome! The interview clocks in at just over 30 minutes. My podcast doesn't include advertising, but I am trying to drum up some support through Patreon<http://www.patreon.com/ericgarza> to help me cover my production costs. Any support folks are willing to offer is appreciated! Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] The Benefits and Costs of Agriculture
For those whose work intersects with agriculture (which, I suspect, is many of us given how pervasive agriculture's impacts are), you might be interested in giving my podcast episode on The Benefits and Costs of Agriculture<http://ericgarza.info/ep2-benefits-costs-agriculture/> a listen. This link goes to my website where you can download and stream, but you can also listen through iTunes, Google Play, and a few other podcast aggregators. Also, if folks have ideas about people they'd love to hear interviewed on my podcast, I'd love to hear them. Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
[ECOLOG-L] Podcast Episode: Of Apes and Man
For those interested in podcasts, I uploaded a new episode of my podcast, A Worldview Apart, earlier this morning. The title of this episode is Of Apes and Man<http://ericgarza.info/of-apes-and-man/>, and you can download or listen at the link or find the episode on iTunes, Google Play, and other podcast apps. The episode builds on the recently released film War for the Planet of the Apes, which I really enjoyed, to explore the relationship that humans have with our planet and the many other species we share it with. The topics I touch on include: * People’s resistance to owning their ape-ness * The anthropocene, the geological epoch where human beings are the dominant force shaping Earth’s climate and its physical geography * Surpassing planetary boundaries, and * Speciesism, human supremacism, and these ideologies’ impacts on our relationship to our planet Comments and feedback are welcome. Also, if folks can't find my podcast on a particular app that you enjoy using, let me know and I'll investigate submitting my podcast there. Cheers! Eric Garza, PhD Cell: (802) 881-8675 Web: EricGarza.info<http://ericgarza.info>
