Histories of Environmental Prediction and Policy
Expertise for the Future focuses on the history of the idea of environmental prediction, and the reception of predictions optimistic and pessimistic since the sixteenth century, ranging from personal observation to interpretation of longitudinal data trends (prices, demographic data, meteorological records) and the increased importance of statistical modelling. These issues are explored through a series of workshops in 2009-2011, that address histories of resource use and fears of scarcity; demography and epidemiology; climate science; conservation; deforestation; and the international exchange of ideas and technology.
Read more about the project at http://www-histecon.kings.cam.ac.uk/ees/expertise_future.html
Anthology
Key Readings in the History of Environmental Prediction
One of the outcomes of the project will be an anthology of ‘key readings in the history of environmental prediction’. The readings will focus on the late modern period (roughly the mid-nineteenth century to present), bringing together scientific and social-economic sources that will be useful for courses in ‘global change’, ‘climate change’ and related subjects in environmental history (in all its guises). Such an anthology will also be valuable to policy-makers and their advisors, seeking context for their work. Each document will be accompanied by a short commentary.
Can you help us?
Do you have a favorite document in environmental prediction, climate change science or allied disciplines that you use for teaching? That you have researched yourself? Please write your suggestions and put them in the box. All suggestions and comments welcome. We are looking to make the book useful to teachers of environmental history in North America and elsewhere, so comments on length of documents and length of commentaries and other suggestions are also welcome.
Please email Libby.Robin@anu.edu.au with suggestions
Poster
View a larger image of the poster online or download a PDF suitable for printing
