Sublime Systems’ Post

This piece is an edited excerpt from Michael J. Albert’s book Navigating the Polycrisis. In short, amidst the many interconnected crises, futures work can help us orient towards different and more survivable futures. “‘Business-as-usual’ will come to an end—whether by choice or by disaster. Thus we need more future-oriented scholarship that can illuminate the possible roads ahead, their branching pathways, the dangers that lurk, and the opportunities that may emerge for progressive transformation.” As I was reading, this trio of concepts popped into my head; ‘Futurity, transdisciplinarity, planetarity.’ Kiiind of what the newsletter is about, no? Albert talks about concrete utopias, where “speculation must negotiate the tension between radical imagination and rigorous social, political, and ecological analysis of the possible. In other words, it emerges from the always fraught encounter between utopianism and realism.” Love it! Note for the generalists, neo-generalists and other self-taught (and self-thought?) autodidact lifelong learners, multis, towards the end he writes about who will be able to create this important work. “Rather than ultra-specialized experts, it is the agile and curious—those who venture far outside their disciplinary comfort zones, seeking out new insights from other fields and opposing perspectives that challenge their thinking—who are best placed to connect the dots and develop more realistic maps of the future.” #polycrisis #transdisciplinarity #futures #generalists #multi

An excerpt from a newly published book on navigating the #polycrisis --> "We should, however, acknowledge that this sort of transdisciplinary futures analysis carries risks. On one hand, there is the risk of oversimplification and mistakes as we venture into fields beyond our disciplinary expertise. The risks are real, but I make no apologies for taking them. To use an expression popularized by Dan Gardner, the 'foxes' among us (rather than the 'hedgehogs') are more likely to successfully anticipate the broad contours of the future. In other words, rather than ultra-specialized experts, it is the agile and curious—those who venture far outside their disciplinary comfort zones, seeking out new insights from other fields and opposing perspectives that challenge their thinking—who are best placed to connect the dots and develop more realistic maps of the future. Martin Wolf—the chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, and a recent convert to systems thinking—makes the point well: 'We need to analyse within the [disciplinary] siloes, while also analysing across them. . . . It is bound to irritate professional experts working comfortably in their silos. But . . . it has become clear that such narrowness is folly. It is to be precisely wrong rather than dare to be roughly right.' In other words, specialization is still necessary; it provides the raw material with which the foxes among us can build a more synthetic narrative. But to develop more useful and comprehensive maps that will help us navigate the planetary polycrisis, we must get outside of our disciplinary comfort zones, remain agile, take risks, and be willing to continuously address our blind spots—no matter which fields of knowledge this forces us into—and revise our maps accordingly. If we 'dare to be roughly right' about the future, then there is no other option." https://lnkd.in/eEkCg9Jg #resilience #systemsthinking #futuresliteracy #future

Having recently interviewed Peter Kelly-Detwiler in front of a live audience, I was really impressed at how he was able to unravel the complex realities of climate change, offering a perspective that elevates us well beyond headlines. I was therefore delighted to continue our conversation on last week's Business Elevation Show - 'Understanding Climate Change: Beyond The Headlines'. One key takeaway from the interview I wanted to share with you: Technological Leverage: The whole energy economy, whether you’re burning coal or whether you’re moving electricity or traction for a vehicle, it’s all about material science, it’s physics and it’s chemistry. And that’s where artificial intelligence can help. Technologies like AI are driving rapid changes, from creating new materials to improving energy efficiency. These advancements can potentially revolutionise how we address environmental crises. For more key thoughts and to listen to the interview, take a look - https://lnkd.in/ehG33aj9

Watch the Scientists4Future NL Webinars We had the honor to have many great speakers sharing their insights for our webinar series, which you can watch back on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eug4yP8G If you have any suggestions for topics and speakers we could feature or you want to get involved in any other way, please get in touch with us: https://lnkd.in/eNMvTfxx Some examples: Rens Bod🟥 speaks about his 40 assertions about the scientific system. https://lnkd.in/eg5jb8UJ Miriam Meissner discusses how our well-being can be improved through degrowth. https://lnkd.in/egVxGy8Y Michiel van den Broeke tells us the fascinating and scary stories about ice in the global climate system. https://lnkd.in/eNQJq4Jt Christel van Eck shares her insights into communicating climate change and how the peculiarities of human psychology pose extra challenges. https://lnkd.in/d6Ur-EiC #Scientists4Future #ClimateWebinars #InnovativeInsights #SustainableFuture #WatchAndLearn

Another #degrowth paper alert ‼️ 💪🏾 Well done Chris Vrettos for leading this wonderful paper as an output from your MSc. Such an important contribution on how to link #transformativecapacity with #degrowth and #postgrowth theories grounded in a Greek case study in renewable energy cooperatives 🌞 🌍 In a world of accelerating climate breakdown, technological breakthroughs, and social upheaval, transformative ideas abound: Teslas, lab grown meat, geoengineering, AI. But how can we assess if one such solution is indeed socially and climate just? ⚡ We introduce the concept of "Degrowth Transformative Capacity", a tool to assess whether an initiative indeed fundamentally breaks from the status quo and can bring about broader systemic change (think workers owned cooperatives that re-invest their surplus in local environmental projects).

“The other important responsibility for our community is to use #science and #technology to change what’s possible so that we can move beyond today’s constraints into a different tomorrow, into a better tomorrow,” Arati Prabhakar Director White House Office of Science and Technology Policy As we navigate the present of 2025, future is on the minds of many. In a presentation at GW, titled “Postcards from the Future,” drawings depicted a “dark” and “bright” future for relevant topics, like climate change and cancer research. She emphasized that enacting necessary science and technology policy and regulations for issues, like artificial intelligence or climate change, or failing to do so, will determine how the future unfolds. #WednesdayWisdom

How we can harness our deepest need not for love but to win for financial wellness Contrary to popular culture, we exist as a species not out of love but out of fierce competition and a hunger to service and win. Those who were able to unwrap the challenge, adapt, learn and build skills, won. Those who maintained their position were cast to history. Whilst hominin evolution was largely driven by changes in climate, as seems destined to pervade, competition has been fundamental to our evolution. "We have been ignoring the way competition between species has shaped our evolutionary tree, the effect of climate, only part of the story" So says Dr Laura van Holstein, University of Cambridge biological anthropologist , in her latest paper published in Science Daily. Key to our adaptation and differentiation to other species' evolution has been our adoption of technology, initially stone tools and fire, more recently digital, to carve out new niches and compete. https://lnkd.in/grBQ8jZG Competition is more than a game mechanic. Competition is fundamental to game design; It helps us craft the narrative. In financial services, as we move from ease of use to a customer centric story around helping people thrive with their money and win, game is not only essential, it leverages our deepest need to win, look after our families and tribe and press on https://lnkd.in/gacmCeVZ

#ClimateChange is a challenge that, spanning more than one human lifetime, can be defined as a “long problem”. #LongProblems involve an extended chain of cause and effect with an increasing “number of intervening factors” and “a multiplicity of processes to shape outcomes,” and are often (but not always) irreversible. They present society with three daunting political and governance #challenges:  - “the early action paradox”: they require immediate action with well-known costs but aim to achieve uncertain #future benefits; - “shadow interests”: the people in the future who will reap the benefits of today’s actions do not have a voice in present-day deliberations; - “institutional lag”: any political response enacted today may remain in place but no longer be useful later, as the "long problem" evolves. Stanford Social Innovation Review https://lnkd.in/dK36z77D

oin hosts Dave and Len as they delve into the major news and trends of 2024, providing insights and reflections on the year's significant events. From the near-miss aviation disaster in Alaska to the shocking infrastructure collapse in Baltimore, explore how these incidents shaped media narratives. Examine the tragic school and public shootings, their legal aftermaths, and the societal impacts that spurred new dialogues around safety and responsibility. Dive into the realm of AI's rising influence, its implications for jobs, industries, and daily life, and contemplate the balance between technological advancement and societal adaptation. Reflect on the poignant losses of notable figures whose legacies continue to inspire. With thoughtful commentary, Dave and Len offer a recap of the year’s pivotal moments and share their personal goals and outlooks for a hopeful 2025, emphasizing resilience and the pursuit of progress amid the unfolding narratives of our time. Click Below: https://lnkd.in/ezynVnYV

"Bringing Current Affairs into Everyday Learning: Building Awareness and Empathy" With today’s fast-paced global events—advancements in technology, economic shifts, and sustainability challenges—staying connected with real-world issues feels more important than ever. Recently, I’ve found that discussing these topics in everyday conversations sparks deeper insights and understanding. Whether it’s AI advancements, climate action, or the global economy, engaging with current affairs builds empathy and helps us see the bigger picture. I’d love to hear how others incorporate global awareness into their work or daily lives. What recent event has impacted your perspective the most, and how do you think it’s shaping our future? _______🌐