Guest lecture 4: Victor Galaz (Thu Dec 2 at 8-10)

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Guest lecturer: Victor Galaz, Stockholm Resilience Center/Stockholm University

Title: Can information technology really help save the planet? Collective intelligence and supernetworks in global health governance

Place: Lecture hall D3 (8-10 - please be on time!)

Abstract:

The possible implications of abrupt climate change, "planetary boundaries", and the failure of international institutions to deal with multiple interacting global crises has gained considerable scientific and political attention during the last years. Few sustainability scientists have however elaborated another important global trend: the explosive evolution of, and cascading innovations in, information and communication technologies (ICT).

- What is the role of ICT in dealing with the repercussions of rapid global environmental change?

- How can ICT build resilience in global environmental governance?

[Please take a moment to think about these issues. What do you imagine or expect Victor to talk about? Can you in advance think of questions you would like to pose? / Daniel]

Literature:

Please prepare for the seminar by reading:

Galaz, V. (2009). "Pandemic 2.0: Can information technology help save the planet?". Environment magazine, Nov-Dec 2009.

About Victor:

Victor Galaz holds a Ph.D. in political science, and is currently working as a researcher and theme leader at the Stockholm Resilience Center (Stockholm University).

His current research interests are in resilience theory, governance theory, information technological innovations, epidemics governance, and applications of complexity theory on social systems.

Among his publications in English are articles published in the journals Public Administration, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Environmental Politics, Science, Ambio, Ecology and Society, Environment, and Governance. His work has been featured in international media such as Wired.com, The Guardian and New Scientist.

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