What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

I've been working in the field of sustainability and climate change for some 20 years. It feels like the need for change is growing faster than the impact we are delivering. So, I am wondering what I can do next that is useful. Speaking with others, they have the same challenge.Which is why I’m doing this interview series. In 30 minute bites, I ask some brilliant people what they are doing now and why. All to inspire and enable the audience (which may turn out to be just me!) through stories grounded in experience. Please do listen, be inspired and suggest who I should be interviewing.Thank you -- David (powerfultimespodcast@gmail.com)

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What Can We Do In These Powerful Times?

Jacquie McGlade

May 13, 2023 • David Bent • Season 1 • Episode 39

Prof Jacquie McGlade (Twitter, Wikipedia) is an administrator, academic, advocate and more besides. Currently she is Professor of Natural Prosperity, Sustainable Development and Knowledge Systems at UCL (which is how I know her) and a lecturer at Strathmore Business School in Nairobi, which is where she lives. She is married to a Maasai village chief.

In a frankly amazing career, Jacquie has been a scientist, the executive director of the European Environment Agency, and the Chief Scientist at UNEP. She is also a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Downforce Technologies, a pioneer in science-led, data-driven land management solutions focused on optimising soil health, soil organic carbon levels, and biodiversity (I had a small part in setting up Downforce Technologies).

Jacquie has a rare combination of (Western) science and indigenous knowledge. She is like the fish she studied for her PhD, able to travel into the oceans and back into fresh water.

The striking themes are on:
-The need for high quality data people trust so they can make new decisions.
-The importance of having enough people in society trying something new, so society can evolve.
-Ensuring her village can thrive without Western tourism income.

Links

UCL Institute for Global Prosperity

UNEP

UNDP

Ilya Prigogine, Nobel prize-winning chemist, was one of the foundational thinkers of what is now called complex systems,because of his discoveries of self-organisation.

UCL Citizen Science Academy

Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Chris Smaje -- A Small Farm Future

Jacquie's Gresham Lectures are at the bottom of this link.

Timings

0:50 - Q1 What are you doing now? And how did you get there?

13:39 - Q2. What is the future you are trying to create, and why?

22:22 - Q3. What are your priorities for the next few years, and why?

25:36 - Q4. If someone was inspired to follow those priorities, what should they do next?

28:35 - Q5. If your younger self was starting their career now, what advice would you give them?

31:25 - Q6. Who would you nominate to answer these questions, because you admire their approach?

36;12 - Q7. Is there anything else important you feel you have to say?

Twitter: Powerful_Times

Website hub: here.

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Thank you for listening! -- David

People on this episode

David Bent

Host