MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FÜR WISSENSCHAFTSGESCHICHTE Max Planck Institute for the History of Science

Event

Dec 15-17, 2019
Geoanthropology. Comprehending the Human-Earth System

  • Conference
  • Dept. I
  • Several Speakers
  • Julia Pongratz
  • Friederike Otto
  • Vasilis Dakos
  • Ingrid van de Leemput
  • Axel Kleidon
  • Sabine Höhler
  • Manfred Laubichler
  • Franz Mauelshagen
  • Dominic Boyer
  • Felix Creutzig
  • Laurence L. Delina
  • Marina Alberti
  • Johan Rockström
  • Klaus Töpfer
  • Susan Trumbore
  • Sander van der Leeuw
  • Geoffrey West
  • Simon A. Levin
  • Ulrich Pöschl
  • Elena Rovenskaya
  • Helga Weisz
  • Jan Zalasiewicz

A conference held by the cross-sectional core commission “Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology”

In order to tackle the challenges associated with the Anthropocene an integrative approach in studying the complex interactions and coevolutionary dynamics in this now dominant nexus between humans and the Earth system is long overdue. This conference discusses the intellectual and methodological frameworks for such a new research endeavour termed ‘geoanthropology’. Geoanthropology aims at investigating the historical, contemporary and future dynamics of human interactions with their planetary environment, thereby focusing on the co-evolution of biophysical, sociotechnical and symbolic environments in an integrated manner. Through analytical and interpretative approaches, geoanthropology presents a framework to study the concrete human-created conditions of ongoing Earth system and biosphere destabilization, the limits of socio-ecological carrying capacities, possible system thresholds and collapses, tipping elements and points of no return, as well as necessary socio-economic and cultural reaction times.

Speakers are invited to share innovative perspectives and to give strategic orientation to the prospective science of geoanthropology, with regard to both thematic and methodological issues encountered in addressing the human-Earth system nexus. They are asked to give insight into their respective field of research, their professional experience, and to sketch programmatic outlines for a possible research agenda within a highly interdisciplinary and cooperative research environment.

Organizing Team:

Mona Friedrich, Christoph Rosol, Isabel Beeg (GV), Marcela Held-Schoser (GV).

Program: 

Sunday, Dec 15

Welcome by Christoph Engel
Introduction by Jürgen Renn

Round-table discussion
Marina Alberti
Johan Rockström
Julia A. Thomas
Klaus Töpfer
Susan Trumbore
Sander van der Leeuw
Geoffrey West
Moderation: Ulrich Pöschl

 

Monday, Dec 16

Session 1: Human-Earth Systems Modeling (Chair: Elena Rovenskaya)

Ricarda Winkelmann
“Towards a Unified Understanding of the Human-Earth System”

Jonathan F. Donges
“Analysing and Governing Complex World-Earth System Dynamics in the Anthropocene: From Ontologies to Multi-Level Adaptive Network Models”

Julia Pongratz
“New Roles of Land Management in the Anthropocene”

Friederike Otto
“Climate Litigation – A Catalyst for Rethinking Climate Research”

Session 2: Human-Earth Systems Co-evolution (Chair: Simon A. Levin)

Vasilis Dakos
“Preparing for Surprise under Global Change: Resilience, Tipping Points, and Early-Warnings”

Ingrid van de Leemput
“From Tropical Islands to Planet Earth: Dynamics of Coupled Tipping Elements”

Axel Kleidon (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena)
“Energy as a Unifying Concept to Understand Human Dynamics in Earth System Functioning”

Manfred Laubichler
“What Kind of Evolutionary Theory Does Geoanthropology Need?”

Session 3: Human-Earth Systems History (Chair: Jan Zalasiewicz)

Sabine Höhler
“Geo-Anthropology Is Humanities By Other Means. Considering Contingency and Accountability on the Planetary Scale”

Franz Mauelshagen
“The Great Metabolic Divergence of the Anthropocene”

 

Tuesday, Dec 17

Session 4: Human-Earth Systems Sustainability (Chair: Helga Weisz)

Dominic Boyer (per video)
“Energy Humanities and Geoanthropology”

Felix Creutzig
“Urban Solutions for the Anthropocene”

Laurence L. Delina (per video)
“Human-Earth Systems Sustainability Transformations for and by Whom?”

Brief summary by the four chairs

General discussion

Concluding remarks by Jürgen Renn

 

Organizer(s)
Related Project(s)
Address
Harnack-Haus, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Room
Lise-Meitner-Saal
2019-12-15T14:00:00SAVE IN I-CAL 2019-12-15 14:00:00 2019-12-17 15:00:00 Geoanthropology. Comprehending the Human-Earth System A conference held by the cross-sectional core commission “Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology” In order to tackle the challenges associated with the Anthropocene an integrative approach in studying the complex interactions and coevolutionary dynamics in this now dominant nexus between humans and the Earth system is long overdue. This conference discusses the intellectual and methodological frameworks for such a new research endeavour termed ‘geoanthropology’. Geoanthropology aims at investigating the historical, contemporary and future dynamics of human interactions with their planetary environment, thereby focusing on the co-evolution of biophysical, sociotechnical and symbolic environments in an integrated manner. Through analytical and interpretative approaches, geoanthropology presents a framework to study the concrete human-created conditions of ongoing Earth system and biosphere destabilization, the limits of socio-ecological carrying capacities, possible system thresholds and collapses, tipping elements and points of no return, as well as necessary socio-economic and cultural reaction times. Speakers are invited to share innovative perspectives and to give strategic orientation to the prospective science of geoanthropology, with regard to both thematic and methodological issues encountered in addressing the human-Earth system nexus. They are asked to give insight into their respective field of research, their professional experience, and to sketch programmatic outlines for a possible research agenda within a highly interdisciplinary and cooperative research environment. Organizing Team: Mona Friedrich, Christoph Rosol, Isabel Beeg (GV), Marcela Held-Schoser (GV). Program:  Sunday, Dec 15 Welcome by Christoph Engel Introduction by Jürgen Renn Round-table discussion Marina Alberti Johan Rockström Julia A. Thomas Klaus Töpfer Susan Trumbore Sander van der Leeuw Geoffrey West Moderation: Ulrich Pöschl   Monday, Dec 16 Session 1: Human-Earth Systems Modeling (Chair: Elena Rovenskaya) Ricarda Winkelmann “Towards a Unified Understanding of the Human-Earth System” Jonathan F. Donges “Analysing and Governing Complex World-Earth System Dynamics in the Anthropocene: From Ontologies to Multi-Level Adaptive Network Models” Julia Pongratz “New Roles of Land Management in the Anthropocene” Friederike Otto “Climate Litigation – A Catalyst for Rethinking Climate Research” Session 2: Human-Earth Systems Co-evolution (Chair: Simon A. Levin) Vasilis Dakos “Preparing for Surprise under Global Change: Resilience, Tipping Points, and Early-Warnings” Ingrid van de Leemput “From Tropical Islands to Planet Earth: Dynamics of Coupled Tipping Elements” Axel Kleidon (Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena) “Energy as a Unifying Concept to Understand Human Dynamics in Earth System Functioning” Manfred Laubichler “What Kind of Evolutionary Theory Does Geoanthropology Need?” Session 3: Human-Earth Systems History (Chair: Jan Zalasiewicz) Sabine Höhler “Geo-Anthropology Is Humanities By Other Means. Considering Contingency and Accountability on the Planetary Scale” Franz Mauelshagen “The Great Metabolic Divergence of the Anthropocene”   Tuesday, Dec 17 Session 4: Human-Earth Systems Sustainability (Chair: Helga Weisz) Dominic Boyer (per video) “Energy Humanities and Geoanthropology” Felix Creutzig “Urban Solutions for the Anthropocene” Laurence L. Delina (per video) “Human-Earth Systems Sustainability Transformations for and by Whom?” Brief summary by the four chairs General discussion Concluding remarks by Jürgen Renn   Harnack-Haus, 14195 Berlin, Germany Lise-Meitner-Saal Jürgen RennChristoph Rosol Jürgen RennChristoph Rosol Europe/Berlin public