SEI 2nd Annual Seminar - Can Technology Save the Planet?

Thursday 23 February 2012, 5.30PM to 19:30

Speaker: Mark Lynas, Author and Journalist, Doug Parr (Chief Scientist and Policy Director, Greenpeace) and Liz Barclay (Broadcast Journalist) will Chair the seminar.

Human pressure on the Earth’s ecosystem has now reached a point where rapid global environmental change is possible. There are a total of nine planetary boundaries which we must not cross if the Earth is to continue to support life and our civilisation. We have already crossed three of these boundaries: climate change, biodiversity and nitrogen input to the biosphere. Since these boundaries are strongly connected crossing one may seriously threaten our ability to stay in safe levels of the others.

The extent we will be affected by crossing these planetary boundaries will be dependent on our ability to cope with and prevent rapid environmental change. Is it now time to use our technological mastery over nature to protect the planet from ourselves?

Traditionally, environmentalists have been suspicious of new technologies and have rejected calls to embrace GM crops and nuclear power.

• Is our failure to fully embrace technologies hindering environmental social progress and putting humanity at risk?
• Is it time to revisit the role of nuclear power and genetic engineering as part of a global effort to protect the planet and humanity from rapid environmental change?

The York SEI 2012 Annual Seminar will address the role of technology in tackling current and future environmental challenges with contributions from Mark Lynas and Doug Parr followed by discussion.

The seminar is FREE and by ticket only.

Register for the event here

Location: National Science Learning Centre, University of York

Admission: eventbrite.co.uk (www.seiy2012.eventbrite.co.uk)

Email: emma.wright@york.ac.uk

Telephone: 09104 322897