Scientists Meet Scientists – TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk | Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability by Prof. Eörs Szathmáry: “The three-legged chair”
Events, WCT |
On October 25, 2023, the new Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability as an integral part of our Wednesday Coffee Talks is set to commence.
The first talk in this series will be delivered by Prof. Eörs Szathmáry (Institute of Evolution, Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest, Hungary and Center for the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Parmenides Foundation, Pöcking, Germany) on “The three-legged chair”.
Abstract:
The problem of sustainability has been likened to a three-legged stool, where the legs are the environment, the economy and society. The seat is knowledge integrating the different components. If there is no knowledge, there is nothing to sit on. If any one leg breaks, the whole chair topples. While we may consider humans as "super-cooperators", we are facing a test the likes of which we have never faced before. Our pressing global problems will either have a cooperative solution or no solution at all. The problem is really big. For a long time, in many areas, the view has held that the future will be essentially be like what the past was. That is now over, and in many areas there has been not linear but exponential change. A further threat is the existence of tipping points, where the system suddenly enters a different state. What is more, systems in transition can be bound together in vicious circles. The biggest problem is that we have little time left for mitigation. I shall illustrate these aspects with examples along the three legs.
Date: October 25, 2023
Time: 13:00 CEST (until approx. 14:00)
Location: online
Registration: The TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talks including the new Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability are held online via Zoom making it accessible to a global audience. To register and to receive the Zoom link, please send an email to events@ias.tum.de.
Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability
As part of the ongoing commitment of the TUM-IAS to foster scientific exchange and professional networks, the Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability aims to bring together scientists from research institutions in Eastern, Southeastern, and Central Europe to discuss topics related to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. This seminar series is a first step to bridge the geographical and academic gaps in order to create a scientific network, and encourage joint research initiatives and build lasting collaborations for a more sustainable future
THE TUM-IAS WEDNESDAY COFFEE TALKS
Every Wednesday after lunch, it's all about a new topic - current research highlights at TUM, insights into the work of our Fellows from all over the world, sometimes even topics not usually found at TUM, such as history or theology.
The talks held online start every Wednesday during TUM lecture time at 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome - TUM researchers of all levels, students, visiting scholars, and anyone interested!
Each final Wednesday of the month, a topic related to the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals will be featured as a part of the Seminar Series of European Universities on Sustainability, a new initiative of the TUM-IAS in partnership with universities across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.
Would you like to receive regular updates on the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk and the online link? Just send a short note to events@ias.tum.de.
An overview of upcoming and past TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talks can be found at the TUM-IAS Wednesday Coffee Talk Overview.