Events

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.

Speakers

Mark Lynas, is a journalist, environmentalist and an award winning author. He has written two major books on climate change – High Tide: News from a warming world (2004) and Six Degrees: Our future on a hotter planet (2007). In his controversial book The God Species: How the Planet Can Survive the Age of Humans (2011), he presents a radical manifesto that calls for the increased use of contentious technologies, such as genetic engineering and nuclear power.

Doug Parr is a Chief Scientist and Policy Director of the environmental campaign group Greenpeace UK. Doug has a PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from Oxford University. ~The main focus of his current work is climate policy in power, heat and transport sectors. Previously Dough has undertaken work on a range of issues including GM crops, chemicals policy, green refrigeration, marine conservation, biofuels, geoengineering and nuclear power. He has also been a key civil society commentator on the relationship between technology and policy through issues such as nanotechnology.

Liz Barclay (Chair) has been a Broadcast Journalist and Producer for over 20 years, presenting Radio 4's daily consumer strand 'You and Yours' for 10 years. In her broadcasting career she has worked across Radio and TV, for the BBC and the independent sector. She writes for national newspapers, magazines and websites, is a published author of five books, runs the small business support site www.thebizkit.com, presents at conferences in the UK and abroad and is involved with several consumer, personal finance and small business organisations and charities.

The event is free.

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