Event Description:
Global Minnesota convenes an international panel discussion and Q&A that includes award-winning author Andri Snær Magnason who will present the impact and importance of climate change based on his book On Time and Water: A Call to a New Scientific Revolution. The evening of discussion begins with a ceremonial blessing by members of the Dakota community, and also includes Bjorgvin Saevarsson, expert on regenerative development and the circular economy, a representative from the Honorary Consulate of Iceland in Minnesota, and a Water Bar representative.
Event Timeline:
4:00 pm Introduction of members of the Dakota community who will be offering a ceremonial blessing for the evening. (Representative from Water Bar and Healing Place Cooperative)
4:05 pm Ceremonial Blessing (Dakota community)
4:15 pm Welcome (Water Bar representative)
Introduction of Andri Snær Magnason (Global Minnesota representative)
4:20 pm Presentation by Andri Snær Magnason:
On Time and Water: A Call to a New Scientific Revolution
During the next 100 years we expect to see a fundamental change of all the elements of water on our planet. Many glaciers will melt and the sea levels will rise at a faster rate than has been seen before. Acidification will bring the oceans to a pH level not seen in 30 million years. Patterns of rain and snow will change dramatically in most areas. We could say that nature is not changing in geological speed anymore but entering human speed. This extreme shift is larger than any metaphor or any words or language we are used to. Just like the huge gravity of a black hole makes it invisible, you could say that this issue is so large that it swallows all words and meaning. We hear words like “climate change” but for most people they are just white noise, 99% of the real meaning is not included in our imagination. To describe a black hole you look at the surrounding galaxies and to understand these issues. Andri weaves a web of stories from mythology, to his grandmother’s honeymoon on Europe’s largest glacier, to our understanding of our intimate time. We are faced with the almost impossible task of cutting carbon emissions to zero in 2050 according to newest studies. The question is – are we too late to do something? What can actually be done in 30 years? This calls for nothing less than a new scientific revolution, projects on the scale of the Manhattan project, new paradigms and a new approach to almost everything done in the 20th century. This huge narrative should be a source of motivation for all science studies in the next decades.
4:50 pm Introduction of moderator by Global Minnesota representative.
Panel discussion and Audience Q&A:
- Moderator from IonE (TBD)
- Andri Snær Magnason
- Bjorgvin Saevarsson, expert on regenerative development and the circular economy
- Water specialist from Water Bar (TBD)
5:30 pm Social and Professional Networking
6:00 pm Event Concludes
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