Independent Thinking In An Uncertain World

Any effective response to an uncertain future will require independently thinking individuals working together. Human ideas and actions have led to unprecedented changes in the relationships among humans, and between humans and the Earth. Changes in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the energy we use are evidence of Nature – which has no special interest in sustaining human life – looking out for itself. Even the evolutionary context for humans has altered. Evolutionary pressures from the digital communication revolution have been added to those from natural systems. For humans to meet these challenges requires social re-organisation that is neither simple nor easy. Independent Thinking in an Uncertain World explores workable, field-tested strategies from the frontiers of creating a viable future for humans on Earth. Based on research results from hundreds of social learning workshops with communities worldwide, many of them part of Australian National University’s Local Sustainability Project, authors with diverse interests explore the gap between open-minded individual thinking and closed socially defined knowledges. The multiple dimensions of individual, social and biophysical ways of thinking are combined in ways that allow open-minded individuals to learn from one another.

Any effective response to an uncertain future will require independently thinking individuals working together. Human ideas and actions have led to unprecedented changes in the relationships among humans, and between humans and the Earth. Changes in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the energy we use are evidence of Nature – which has no special interest in sustaining human life – looking out for itself. Even the evolutionary context for humans has altered. Evolutionary pressures from the digital communication revolution have been added to those from natural systems. For humans to meet these challenges requires social re-organisation that is neither simple nor easy. Independent Thinking in an Uncertain World explores workable, field-tested strategies from the frontiers of creating a viable future for humans on Earth. Based on research results from hundreds of social learning workshops with communities worldwide, many of them part of Australian National University’s Local Sustainability Project, authors with diverse interests explore the gap between open-minded individual thinking and closed socially defined knowledges. The multiple dimensions of individual, social and biophysical ways of thinking are combined in ways that allow open-minded individuals to learn from one another.

Our age of radical uncertainty requires a new way of assessing risk that pays more attention to the extreme outliers that too often become tomorrow’s reality. Today’s models cannot cope with the frightening new unpredictable risks we face every day that frequently seem to come out of left field – the effects of climate change, a killer pandemic, a cascading wildfire, a financial crisis triggered by faceless algorithms, or a devastating cyber-attack that shuts down the electric power grid. This accessible book advocates a new, more realistic approach to analyzing risk and strategizing—one that is less reliant on a single solution or unnuanced forecast. They help us look for the almost unimaginable situations that we cannot see. The book targets non-technical and technical individuals who are faced with complex decisions. Here is what some thought leaders are saying about “Risk Thinking.” “Had we central bankers employed Dembo’s risk thinking approach and analytical tools we could have avoided the Great Financial Crisis.” David Dodge, former Governor of the Bank of Canada “A provocative and clear manual for anyone trying to assess risks today” -Gillian Tett, Financial Times, Editorial Board and Editor-at-large, U.S. “Enjoy this book. It is insightfully written, fun to read and assess risks to navigating our uncertain future” -Col Chris Hadfield, engineer, test pilot and astronaut. Formerly Commander of the International Space Station, and Nasa Director of Operations in Russia. “We can all think of major recent failures to manage risk: in the economy, financial services, health care and climate change....as the world becomes more complex, managing risk will become more important and more difficult. This book provides an effective and refreshingly practical framework for addressing this challenge”. -Mike Pedersen, Chairman Business Development Bank of Canada, Former President at and CEO, TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank. In Risk Thinking, Ron Dembo gives the reader tools to unravel the mysteries of risk in an accessible and eloquent way. This is a must read for any strategic thinker and emerging leader looking to thrive in an uncertain world.” Dr. Phil De Luna, Carbontech Innovator and selected as one of Forbes 30 Under 30.

This expansive Handbook guides readers through a multi-layered landscape of the interpretations and uses of transdisciplinary thinking and practices worldwide. It advances understanding of the strengths and limits of transdisciplinary research in the context of societal power relations, institutional structures and social inequalities. This title contains one or more Open Access chapters.

CHOICE Recommended title 2022 This timely book reframes the historic narrative of people, animals, and nature as risks to each other, to one where we think about health as a shared capacity. This new narrative promotes the positive contributions made to health across species and generations and addresses growing calls to shift from a reactive to proactive approach in One Health. Editor Craig Stephen takes the reader on a tour of the situations wherein we can all, regardless of our job description, work across species, sectors, and generations to motivate action. Perspectives and methods from a variety of fields and experts are shared and adapted to promote collaborative understanding of and action on determinants of health at the animal-society interface. Case studies demonstrate that the principles and practices presented are feasible, empowering people to make choices that concurrently benefit the health of animals, societies, and ecosystems. The first book to adapt and explain health promotion, harm reduction, and health equity issues in a One Health context, and in terms of animal health, this is necessary reading for students of and practitioners working in planetary health, conservation, ecohealth, public health, health promotion, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare.

The development of technology and online learning has transformed not only the way information is transmitted but also the way learning and teaching are approached. As a socio-cultural construction, arts and creativity reflect the societal context. Accordingly, nowadays, educating the arts and creative potential is necessarily affected by technology. Sustaining Creativity and the Arts in the Digital Age discusses from a global perspective how the relationship between the arts, creativity, and education is evolving and developing in the digital age and considers the multiple dimensions of creativity. Covering key topics such as robots, dreaming, art education, innovation, and digital technologies, this reference work is ideal for artists, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, scholars, educators, and students.

“Frustrated with our polarized culture? Take this incredibly fun ride through the life of modern day Renaissance man Vikram Mansharamani to appreciate a simple solution—open-minded, generalist thinking. This book is an enjoyable read that lays out a viable path to move beyond today's identity-driven, label-dominated world.” —Christopher T. Sununu, Governor; State of New Hampshire “As a modern day Indiana Jones, Vikram braves the wilds of today’s uncertain world with remarkable tenacity and a devout commitment to identifying opportunities within risks. The generalist approach he models can help each of us create a better future for ourselves, our families, and quite possibly, our country.” —David Tice, President, Paul Revere Films Step into the fascinating world of Vikram Mansharamani, where the power of independent thinking takes center stage. Vikram’s remarkable journey has taken him from humble beginnings to being one of the most sought-after independent thinkers of our time in business, politics, and strategic decision-making. Filled with insights that show readers how to think and act for themselves, The Making of a Generalist reveals how Vikram learned to navigate uncertainty from a young age. As the son of two working-class immigrants who moved to rural New Jersey, Vikram balanced demanding academics while pumping gas at his dad’s garage. His parents modeled a powerful migrant mindset that shaped his worldview and taught him the importance of open-mindedness and the value of education. In school, his unbridled curiosity opened doors to an Ivy League education, a PhD from MIT, and faculty appointments at Yale and Harvard. Nothing about Vikram’s journey to the top was linear or easy. As a generalist in a world of specialists, he often watched his ideas get dismissed by experts brimming with overconfident certainty. But Vikram resisted the herd, embraced multi-dimensional thinking, and regularly spotted what experts missed. Vikram’s life shows how anyone can find unconventional success through an intentional focus on breadth over depth—the lynchpin to being an effective generalist. Written with heart-warming candor, The Making of a Generalist empowers readers to embrace challenges and view uncertainty as a gift of opportunity.

Unlike other volumes in the current literature, this book provides insight for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary researchers and practitioners on what doesn’t work. Documenting detailed case studies of project failure matters, not only as an illustration of experienced challenges but also as projects do not always follow step-by-step protocols of preconceived and theorised processes. Bookended by a framing introduction by the editors and a conclusion written by Julie Thompson Klein, each chapter ends with a reflexive section that synthesizes lessons learned and key take-away points for the reader. Drawing on a wide range of international case studies and with a strong environmental thread throughout, the book reveals a range of failure scenarios for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects, including: • Projects that did not get off the ground; • Projects that did not have the correct personnel for specified objectives; • Projects that did not reach their original objectives but met other objectives; • Projects that failed to anticipate important differences among collaborators. Illustrating causal links in real life projects, this volume will be of significant relevance to scholars and practitioners looking to overcome the challenges of conducting interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research.