WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.860 --> 00:00:05.689 The Anthropocene is a proposed name 2 00:00:05.690 --> 00:00:07.939 for our current geologic era, 3 00:00:07.940 --> 00:00:09.889 first suggested in the year 2000 by 4 00:00:09.890 --> 00:00:11.779 atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen and 5 00:00:11.780 --> 00:00:13.579 ecologist Eugene Stoermer. 6 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:15.229 The name argues that human activity 7 00:00:15.230 --> 00:00:16.819 is now the dominant influence on the 8 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:18.739 Earth's climate and environment 9 00:00:18.740 --> 00:00:20.059 and that that activity will be 10 00:00:20.060 --> 00:00:21.469 present in the Earth's geologic 11 00:00:21.470 --> 00:00:23.089 record millions of years from now. 12 00:00:24.410 --> 00:00:26.119 As a concept, the Anthropocene is 13 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:27.799 frequently used to sound warnings or 14 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:29.839 raise awareness, altering 15 00:00:29.840 --> 00:00:31.189 the carbon cycle, creating 16 00:00:31.190 --> 00:00:33.259 fossilized plastics, acidifying 17 00:00:33.260 --> 00:00:35.089 rivers, not to mention warming 18 00:00:35.090 --> 00:00:36.349 the Earth's climate. 19 00:00:36.350 --> 00:00:37.399 These are just a few of the 20 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:39.139 human-driven changes the proposed 21 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:40.819 era attempts to highlight. 22 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:42.019 Though not everyone agrees on the 23 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:43.879 severity of these changes or even 24 00:00:43.880 --> 00:00:44.880 their existence. 25 00:00:45.710 --> 00:00:47.419 But the Anthropocene need not signal 26 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:48.529 crisis. 27 00:00:48.530 --> 00:00:50.389 Some science writers see the era as 28 00:00:50.390 --> 00:00:52.099 a call for greater human stewardship 29 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:53.959 of the Earth's natural resources and 30 00:00:53.960 --> 00:00:55.609 emphasize its species unifying 31 00:00:55.610 --> 00:00:57.049 potential. 32 00:00:57.050 --> 00:00:58.039 Again, though, this proves 33 00:00:58.040 --> 00:01:00.079 controversial as it risks smoothing 34 00:01:00.080 --> 00:01:01.729 over inequalities in the agency and 35 00:01:01.730 --> 00:01:02.869 responsibility that different 36 00:01:02.870 --> 00:01:04.549 individuals have for environmental 37 00:01:04.550 --> 00:01:06.049 degradation. 38 00:01:06.050 --> 00:01:07.579 As the literary critic Rob Nixon 39 00:01:07.580 --> 00:01:09.319 writes, "We may all be in the 40 00:01:09.320 --> 00:01:11.179 Anthropocene, but we're not all in 41 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:12.180 it in the same way." 42 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:15.349 On September 26, Pitt's Humanities 43 00:01:15.350 --> 00:01:16.699 Center and the Carnegie Museum of 44 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:18.349 Natural History co-sponsored a panel 45 00:01:18.350 --> 00:01:20.419 titled Environmental Institutions: 46 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:21.619 Representing Nature in the 47 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:22.620 Anthropocene. 48 00:01:23.300 --> 00:01:24.649 The panel featured representatives 49 00:01:24.650 --> 00:01:25.759 from three different kinds of 50 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:27.709 institutions universities, 51 00:01:27.710 --> 00:01:29.869 museums, and the media. 52 00:01:29.870 --> 00:01:30.949 It was an attempt to see how 53 00:01:30.950 --> 00:01:32.209 different institutions help us 54 00:01:32.210 --> 00:01:33.679 understand our relationship to the 55 00:01:33.680 --> 00:01:35.359 environment and how we might better 56 00:01:35.360 --> 00:01:37.339 work together in the future. 57 00:01:37.340 --> 00:01:38.509 This episode of Being Human will 58 00:01:38.510 --> 00:01:39.799 feature highlights from that 59 00:01:39.800 --> 00:01:40.789 conversation. 60 00:01:40.790 --> 00:01:42.529 Our first speaker was Reid Frazier, 61 00:01:42.530 --> 00:01:43.969 a Pittsburgh radio journalist and 62 00:01:43.970 --> 00:01:45.319 energy reporter for the Allegheny 63 00:01:45.320 --> 00:01:47.959 Front and StateImpact Pennsylvania. 64 00:01:47.960 --> 00:01:49.369 He spoke about the long history of 65 00:01:49.370 --> 00:01:50.989 extracting resources from nature in 66 00:01:50.990 --> 00:01:51.990 southwestern Pennsylvania, the 67 00:01:52.730 --> 00:01:54.019 difficulty of institutional 68 00:01:54.020 --> 00:01:55.879 collaboration, and the complicated 69 00:01:55.880 --> 00:01:57.409 role of journalists at the current 70 00:01:57.410 --> 00:01:58.369 moment. 71 00:01:58.370 --> 00:01:59.370 I mean, I think, 72 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:02.020 as journalists, we're 73 00:02:05.030 --> 00:02:06.109 just trying to tell people what's 74 00:02:06.110 --> 00:02:07.309 happening in their community 75 00:02:08.509 --> 00:02:10.969 and that specifically 76 00:02:10.970 --> 00:02:12.979 what their government 77 00:02:12.980 --> 00:02:15.049 is-- what their government 78 00:02:15.050 --> 00:02:16.490 is doing or not doing 79 00:02:17.870 --> 00:02:19.639 with respect to these issues. 80 00:02:19.640 --> 00:02:20.640 And, I mean, there's so many-- I 81 00:02:22.010 --> 00:02:23.779 mean, the problem with that 82 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:25.099 statement is obviously like there's 83 00:02:25.100 --> 00:02:26.629 so many things we could focus on. 84 00:02:26.630 --> 00:02:27.709 How do we decide? 85 00:02:29.510 --> 00:02:30.769 And I can't really-- I don't really 86 00:02:30.770 --> 00:02:31.759 have a great answer. 87 00:02:31.760 --> 00:02:33.619 I mean, there's like sort of 88 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:35.569 so many fires to put out. 89 00:02:35.570 --> 00:02:38.209 You only have one hose. 90 00:02:38.210 --> 00:02:40.159 But we just try to 91 00:02:42.770 --> 00:02:45.199 sort of hold a mirror up to 92 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:46.200 society 93 00:02:47.510 --> 00:02:48.890 and explain 94 00:02:49.970 --> 00:02:51.230 what they're seeing. 95 00:02:52.250 --> 00:02:54.379 And hopefully, I mean, that's 96 00:02:54.380 --> 00:02:55.380 the 97 00:02:56.480 --> 00:02:57.697 premise of a free press. 98 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:02.749 It's important for democracy. 99 00:03:02.750 --> 00:03:04.549 It's like not just important. 100 00:03:04.550 --> 00:03:06.409 It's vital for democracy 101 00:03:06.410 --> 00:03:07.416 for folks to know what 102 00:03:09.160 --> 00:03:11.079 the truth is, and to say 103 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:12.309 it in plain English, 104 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.659 and to communicate it 105 00:03:16.660 --> 00:03:18.857 plainly to them what's happening. 106 00:03:21.880 --> 00:03:23.259 I mean, there's nothing more plain 107 00:03:23.260 --> 00:03:25.179 than somebody talking to you 108 00:03:25.180 --> 00:03:26.559 on the radio. 109 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.419 And that is 110 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.539 what I see as not 111 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:32.540 just my modus 112 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:35.649 operandi, but like pretty much 113 00:03:35.650 --> 00:03:37.569 everybody I work with at 114 00:03:37.570 --> 00:03:38.949 the Allegheny Front and at the 115 00:03:38.950 --> 00:03:40.809 station and elsewhere 116 00:03:42.190 --> 00:03:44.229 in the media, is to tell people 117 00:03:44.230 --> 00:03:46.299 what's happening. And if something's 118 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:48.729 wrong, to try to find out 119 00:03:48.730 --> 00:03:50.619 and to name the person or 120 00:03:50.620 --> 00:03:52.629 entity who's to blame. 121 00:03:52.630 --> 00:03:54.099 Our next guest was Heather Houser, 122 00:03:54.100 --> 00:03:55.449 associate professor of English at 123 00:03:55.450 --> 00:03:57.399 the University of Texas Austin and 124 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:59.289 founding organizer of Planet Texas 125 00:03:59.290 --> 00:04:01.389 2050, a cross-university 126 00:04:01.390 --> 00:04:03.039 research project aimed at creating 127 00:04:03.040 --> 00:04:04.209 innovative approaches to 128 00:04:04.210 --> 00:04:05.529 environmental problems in that 129 00:04:05.530 --> 00:04:06.789 state. 130 00:04:06.790 --> 00:04:08.079 Professor Houser argued that 131 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:09.519 thinking well about the environment 132 00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:11.409 means becoming undisciplined or 133 00:04:11.410 --> 00:04:12.999 thinking outside of preexisting 134 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:13.749 habits of thought. 135 00:04:13.750 --> 00:04:15.549 And I wanted to start with a couple 136 00:04:15.550 --> 00:04:17.499 quotes that actually struck me that 137 00:04:17.500 --> 00:04:19.389 I read probably in the last 138 00:04:19.390 --> 00:04:22.119 year or so in my teaching. 139 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:24.228 And to just 140 00:04:24.229 --> 00:04:25.419 reflect on them throughout my 141 00:04:25.420 --> 00:04:26.979 remarks and maybe put them in your 142 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:28.869 head around this question of how 143 00:04:28.870 --> 00:04:30.939 do we represent nature, especially 144 00:04:30.940 --> 00:04:33.939 across and among institutions. 145 00:04:33.940 --> 00:04:35.799 So the first is from a 146 00:04:35.800 --> 00:04:37.269 Black studies scholar named 147 00:04:37.270 --> 00:04:38.679 Christina Sharpe. 148 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:40.359 And in her book In The Wake, which 149 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.144 is pretty stunning, and 150 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.189 I would recommend it, it's not 151 00:04:45.190 --> 00:04:46.899 actually about environmental issues. 152 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:48.309 It's about the afterlives of 153 00:04:48.310 --> 00:04:49.209 slavery. 154 00:04:49.210 --> 00:04:50.560 But she talks about 155 00:04:51.850 --> 00:04:54.219 or makes this call, "We must become 156 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:56.049 undisciplined." And 157 00:04:56.050 --> 00:04:57.909 then subsequently 158 00:04:57.910 --> 00:04:59.379 reading a very different book from 159 00:04:59.380 --> 00:05:01.359 the Field of Science Studies 160 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:02.467 by Susan Squier. 161 00:05:03.610 --> 00:05:04.626 And she urges, "It's 162 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:08.199 brave, indeed, to wander across 163 00:05:08.200 --> 00:05:09.969 disciplines looking for that 164 00:05:09.970 --> 00:05:12.369 undisciplined third space 165 00:05:12.370 --> 00:05:14.529 where one can think strange thoughts 166 00:05:14.530 --> 00:05:16.479 and even make mistakes." And 167 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.969 I found other undisciplined 168 00:05:18.970 --> 00:05:20.769 like Clarion calls out there, too. 169 00:05:20.770 --> 00:05:22.629 So this is an idea that 170 00:05:22.630 --> 00:05:24.549 scholars, writers, 171 00:05:24.550 --> 00:05:26.469 folks in many different walks 172 00:05:26.470 --> 00:05:28.029 of life are thinking about. 173 00:05:28.030 --> 00:05:29.499 And I think it's essential for the 174 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:31.509 questions that we wanted to talk 175 00:05:31.510 --> 00:05:33.429 about today. 176 00:05:33.430 --> 00:05:35.259 And one of the things I am 177 00:05:35.260 --> 00:05:36.699 thinking about around the 178 00:05:36.700 --> 00:05:38.619 undisciplined is how 179 00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:40.839 can we create new templates 180 00:05:40.840 --> 00:05:43.269 for what even counts as knowledge 181 00:05:43.270 --> 00:05:44.949 when we're trying to address 182 00:05:44.950 --> 00:05:46.839 problems like climate change and 183 00:05:46.840 --> 00:05:50.019 other problems of the Anthropocene. 184 00:05:50.020 --> 00:05:51.879 And so what even counts as 185 00:05:51.880 --> 00:05:54.129 knowledge when we're talking 186 00:05:54.130 --> 00:05:56.649 about these big problems? 187 00:05:56.650 --> 00:05:58.209 So I have an English Ph.D. 188 00:05:58.210 --> 00:06:00.189 I teach in an English department, 189 00:06:00.190 --> 00:06:02.079 but depending on whom I'm talking 190 00:06:02.080 --> 00:06:03.699 to, I'll often say, "Well, I'm in 191 00:06:03.700 --> 00:06:05.769 environmental studies as well." 192 00:06:05.770 --> 00:06:07.413 And I'll get this look like, huh. 193 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:10.299 Like, she's a square peg who is 194 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:11.769 trying to fit herself into a round 195 00:06:11.770 --> 00:06:13.389 hole or like she doesn't really know 196 00:06:13.390 --> 00:06:14.419 where she belongs. 197 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:16.029 Or I'll get these puzzled looks 198 00:06:16.030 --> 00:06:17.280 sometimes, and I think it's 199 00:06:18.610 --> 00:06:20.169 fair enough. I have no problem with 200 00:06:20.170 --> 00:06:21.579 that. It's an opportunity to talk 201 00:06:21.580 --> 00:06:22.389 about what I do. 202 00:06:22.390 --> 00:06:24.969 But to me, it shows that 203 00:06:24.970 --> 00:06:26.949 all of us are deeply disciplined, 204 00:06:26.950 --> 00:06:28.629 even if you're not from an academic 205 00:06:28.630 --> 00:06:30.289 context, whatever it might be like. 206 00:06:30.290 --> 00:06:32.139 Most of our 207 00:06:32.140 --> 00:06:34.149 formal education is about saying 208 00:06:34.150 --> 00:06:35.799 like, "We study this here. 209 00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:37.389 We think about this here. 210 00:06:37.390 --> 00:06:38.889 We do that there. 211 00:06:38.890 --> 00:06:40.839 And never the twain shall 212 00:06:40.840 --> 00:06:42.669 meet." And 213 00:06:42.670 --> 00:06:44.499 when we're dealing with 214 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:46.449 representing nature and all 215 00:06:46.450 --> 00:06:48.118 of the problems, like Reid gave us 216 00:06:48.119 --> 00:06:50.019 a, I think, great setup 217 00:06:50.020 --> 00:06:52.329 for some of the range of issues 218 00:06:52.330 --> 00:06:54.189 really locally that we're 219 00:06:54.190 --> 00:06:55.629 addressing. 220 00:06:55.630 --> 00:06:57.309 That doesn't work, right? 221 00:06:57.310 --> 00:06:59.289 Like saying, "Well, you think about 222 00:06:59.290 --> 00:07:01.689 that over there and not over here," 223 00:07:01.690 --> 00:07:04.209 is not going to be very helpful. 224 00:07:04.210 --> 00:07:05.709 She also argued that the potential 225 00:07:05.710 --> 00:07:07.089 to encourage this kind of thinking 226 00:07:07.090 --> 00:07:09.669 was already present in universities. 227 00:07:09.670 --> 00:07:11.949 Those are spaces where the knowledge 228 00:07:11.950 --> 00:07:14.049 of scientific forms 229 00:07:14.050 --> 00:07:16.059 of inquiry can certainly also 230 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.060 have their place. 231 00:07:18.070 --> 00:07:19.959 So it's not as if we have to 232 00:07:19.960 --> 00:07:21.819 abandon, say, the knowledge 233 00:07:21.820 --> 00:07:23.649 you get from ice core samples 234 00:07:23.650 --> 00:07:25.479 or something simply because 235 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:27.969 we're in the domain of the arts 236 00:07:27.970 --> 00:07:30.029 or humanistic thinking. 237 00:07:30.030 --> 00:07:31.200 Actually, I think that 238 00:07:33.610 --> 00:07:35.559 those third spaces that 239 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:36.631 I was talking about at the beginning 240 00:07:36.632 --> 00:07:38.589 as being the space 241 00:07:38.590 --> 00:07:39.879 of literature and the arts, where 242 00:07:39.880 --> 00:07:42.309 you can have things like imagination 243 00:07:42.310 --> 00:07:44.199 and empiricism come 244 00:07:44.200 --> 00:07:45.789 together and create new 245 00:07:45.790 --> 00:07:47.860 possibilities and understandings. 246 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:51.160 And I just wanted to conclude 247 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:54.189 with this question of 248 00:07:54.190 --> 00:07:56.319 what institutions can do 249 00:07:56.320 --> 00:07:58.449 to foster that kind 250 00:07:58.450 --> 00:07:59.450 of undisciplining or 251 00:08:01.030 --> 00:08:03.219 creating third spaces. 252 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:05.109 And because institutions 253 00:08:05.110 --> 00:08:07.359 are often the things that solidify 254 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.360 and rigidify disciplines 255 00:08:10.190 --> 00:08:12.259 or create those boxes that tell 256 00:08:12.260 --> 00:08:14.029 you, "Well, you think about this 257 00:08:14.030 --> 00:08:15.199 here, and you don't think about that 258 00:08:15.200 --> 00:08:17.509 there." But at the same time, 259 00:08:17.510 --> 00:08:20.149 a university, a museum, 260 00:08:20.150 --> 00:08:22.519 even like a museum exhibition, it's 261 00:08:22.520 --> 00:08:24.889 this place where a range 262 00:08:24.890 --> 00:08:26.779 of thoughts, a range of 263 00:08:26.780 --> 00:08:29.119 objects, this incredible 264 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.219 diversity of approaches, actually 265 00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:33.199 does live in one 266 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.200 place. 267 00:08:35.059 --> 00:08:37.009 They've often been like segmented 268 00:08:37.010 --> 00:08:38.899 and set apart from each other, but 269 00:08:38.900 --> 00:08:41.178 they actually are in one place. 270 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:42.949 And so the question-- I mean, I'm 271 00:08:42.950 --> 00:08:44.239 not going to get into all of the 272 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:45.510 like bureaucratic and 273 00:08:46.880 --> 00:08:48.019 professional reasons. 274 00:08:48.020 --> 00:08:49.069 That's very difficult. 275 00:08:49.070 --> 00:08:51.139 But the fact of the matter 276 00:08:51.140 --> 00:08:53.119 is that they do 277 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.009 house this variety 278 00:08:55.010 --> 00:08:57.559 of knowledges and representations 279 00:08:57.560 --> 00:08:59.689 that you just don't find in so many 280 00:08:59.690 --> 00:09:00.529 other places. 281 00:09:00.530 --> 00:09:01.530 So how can the 282 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:06.169 potential of that be unleashed? 283 00:09:06.170 --> 00:09:07.759 I'm a part of a project that's 284 00:09:07.760 --> 00:09:09.379 trying to make that happen. 285 00:09:09.380 --> 00:09:10.279 And as you were saying, 286 00:09:10.280 --> 00:09:11.989 collaboration is incredibly 287 00:09:11.990 --> 00:09:13.849 difficult, and 288 00:09:13.850 --> 00:09:15.589 we're confronting the realities of 289 00:09:15.590 --> 00:09:16.759 how hard that is. 290 00:09:16.760 --> 00:09:18.859 But to have the will to give 291 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:20.719 space to people, to try to 292 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.720 figure that out, 293 00:09:22.880 --> 00:09:24.502 I think universities, museums, 294 00:09:24.503 --> 00:09:25.503 journalistic 295 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:29.059 media can offer 296 00:09:29.060 --> 00:09:31.219 those spaces if we take advantage 297 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:32.220 of them. 298 00:09:33.140 --> 00:09:34.489 But then, of course, there are the 299 00:09:34.490 --> 00:09:37.039 limitations on that kind of daring. 300 00:09:37.040 --> 00:09:38.809 And at the University of Texas, 301 00:09:40.010 --> 00:09:41.869 we thought for sure we would not 302 00:09:41.870 --> 00:09:44.299 be selected as one of the so-called 303 00:09:44.300 --> 00:09:46.194 grand challenges to go because 304 00:09:46.195 --> 00:09:47.195 we're 305 00:09:48.180 --> 00:09:50.009 focusing on climate change, and 306 00:09:50.010 --> 00:09:52.199 our university is largely endowed 307 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.629 through lands on which 308 00:09:54.630 --> 00:09:57.599 oil and gas extraction occur. 309 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.549 There's like this fundamental 310 00:09:59.550 --> 00:10:01.409 conflict between the kinds of 311 00:10:01.410 --> 00:10:03.389 work we might want to do 312 00:10:03.390 --> 00:10:05.309 in Planet Texas 2050 313 00:10:05.310 --> 00:10:07.319 and the wealth generation 314 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:09.329 of the university. 315 00:10:09.330 --> 00:10:11.159 And this is just, I mean, this is an 316 00:10:11.160 --> 00:10:12.689 institutional-- actually, natural 317 00:10:12.690 --> 00:10:14.939 history museums are confronting this 318 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:16.920 in terms of their funding sources. 319 00:10:18.090 --> 00:10:19.950 So you have the 320 00:10:21.420 --> 00:10:23.819 ideal of these institutions, 321 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:25.919 and then you have the often economic 322 00:10:25.920 --> 00:10:27.959 and political realities of what's 323 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:29.759 possible within them. 324 00:10:29.760 --> 00:10:31.709 And sometimes, like where 325 00:10:31.710 --> 00:10:33.329 I am existing in this space of 326 00:10:33.330 --> 00:10:35.189 friction, and we'll see what 327 00:10:35.190 --> 00:10:37.259 is ultimately possible, 328 00:10:37.260 --> 00:10:39.899 but that's like a real consideration 329 00:10:39.900 --> 00:10:40.900 of what 330 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:44.099 limitations institutions actually 331 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:46.349 bring to 332 00:10:46.350 --> 00:10:48.359 taking some of these daring steps 333 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:50.519 to become undisciplined 334 00:10:50.520 --> 00:10:52.769 and approach challenges 335 00:10:52.770 --> 00:10:54.359 like climate change. 336 00:10:54.360 --> 00:10:55.859 Our third guest was Nicole Heller, 337 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:57.449 curator of the Anthropocene for the 338 00:10:57.450 --> 00:10:58.979 Carnegie Museum of Natural History 339 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:00.449 in Pittsburgh. Dr. Heller spoke 340 00:11:00.450 --> 00:11:01.559 about the importance of seeing 341 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:03.359 humans as a part of nature rather 342 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:04.529 than as separate from it. 343 00:11:04.530 --> 00:11:06.569 I'm going to focus in thinking 344 00:11:06.570 --> 00:11:08.579 about the title representing nature 345 00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:09.679 in the Anthropocene. 346 00:11:09.680 --> 00:11:11.549 I really wanted to think a little 347 00:11:11.550 --> 00:11:13.409 about this concept of representing 348 00:11:13.410 --> 00:11:15.449 nature and how 349 00:11:15.450 --> 00:11:16.950 that is changing. 350 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.799 It reminded me of 351 00:11:20.970 --> 00:11:23.189 the book Keywords by Raymond 352 00:11:23.190 --> 00:11:24.190 Williams. 353 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.579 It's Keywords: A Vocabulary of 354 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:29.039 Culture and Society from 1976. 355 00:11:29.040 --> 00:11:30.040 And he had in it nature. 356 00:11:30.713 --> 00:11:31.713 In 357 00:11:32.760 --> 00:11:34.619 defining these different words, he 358 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:36.359 writes, "Nature is perhaps the most 359 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:39.449 complex word in the language." 360 00:11:39.450 --> 00:11:41.579 And he also writes, "Any 361 00:11:41.580 --> 00:11:43.529 full history of the uses 362 00:11:43.530 --> 00:11:45.839 of nature would be a history 363 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:46.840 of human thought." 364 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:49.949 And I was reminded 365 00:11:49.950 --> 00:11:51.310 of this description because 366 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:54.659 I think it is very emblematic 367 00:11:54.660 --> 00:11:56.759 of what we're talking 368 00:11:56.760 --> 00:11:58.619 about here, the kind of 369 00:11:58.620 --> 00:12:00.148 way that nature or the environment-- 370 00:12:00.149 --> 00:12:01.149 environment is 371 00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:04.259 actually not in his 1976 372 00:12:04.260 --> 00:12:05.489 book, which is interesting. 373 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:08.909 They are really-- it shows how these 374 00:12:08.910 --> 00:12:10.859 are-- it absolutely is an 375 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:11.999 interdisciplinary or 376 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.279 transdisciplinary term 377 00:12:14.280 --> 00:12:15.733 and that it is socially constructed. 378 00:12:15.734 --> 00:12:17.849 And so I was thinking 379 00:12:17.850 --> 00:12:19.799 about that. I mean, the concept 380 00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:22.169 of nature, really, all of 381 00:12:22.170 --> 00:12:23.280 our institutions, 382 00:12:24.450 --> 00:12:26.759 as individuals, as institutions, 383 00:12:26.760 --> 00:12:28.529 different groups, really, different 384 00:12:28.530 --> 00:12:30.719 disciplines have a stake 385 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.609 in this term. 386 00:12:32.610 --> 00:12:35.159 And it's 387 00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:36.929 a broad concept. 388 00:12:36.930 --> 00:12:39.469 It's a complex concept 389 00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:41.459 in really simple terms. 390 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:43.649 Nature is kind of the world 391 00:12:43.650 --> 00:12:44.519 all around us. 392 00:12:44.520 --> 00:12:46.229 It's the force of life. 393 00:12:46.230 --> 00:12:48.055 And it's kind of what we wonder at. 394 00:12:48.056 --> 00:12:49.919 Right? And who 395 00:12:49.920 --> 00:12:51.449 are we? How did we get here? 396 00:12:51.450 --> 00:12:52.450 These fundamental 397 00:12:53.730 --> 00:12:56.139 philosophical questions. 398 00:12:56.140 --> 00:12:57.899 So in thinking about this and 399 00:12:57.900 --> 00:12:59.459 engaging with the Anthropocene here 400 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:00.460 at the museum, 401 00:13:02.340 --> 00:13:04.229 really it's been causing us to 402 00:13:04.230 --> 00:13:06.329 pause and really think about what 403 00:13:06.330 --> 00:13:08.279 is nature, what is natural history, 404 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:10.679 and reflecting 405 00:13:10.680 --> 00:13:12.539 on the museum's sort 406 00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:14.489 of representation of nature at this 407 00:13:14.490 --> 00:13:15.490 point in time. 408 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:18.899 And I think one of the things that 409 00:13:18.900 --> 00:13:21.299 I have observed 410 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:24.569 throughout my career 411 00:13:24.570 --> 00:13:26.699 as a natural scientist, 412 00:13:26.700 --> 00:13:28.889 and in the way that nature's 413 00:13:28.890 --> 00:13:31.049 come to be seen 414 00:13:31.050 --> 00:13:33.059 in a limited sense, is 415 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:34.919 that it's 416 00:13:34.920 --> 00:13:35.939 kind of like nature. 417 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:37.788 We've sort of pushed it, and Dan 418 00:13:37.789 --> 00:13:39.869 spoke to this. We've pushed it to 419 00:13:39.870 --> 00:13:41.309 kind of a too narrow 420 00:13:42.750 --> 00:13:44.489 definition or too narrow, where 421 00:13:44.490 --> 00:13:46.289 really it's the domain for natural 422 00:13:46.290 --> 00:13:47.069 scientists. 423 00:13:47.070 --> 00:13:48.779 It's a domain for environmental 424 00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:50.759 scientists. And you have people in 425 00:13:50.760 --> 00:13:51.959 the humanities, people in these 426 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:53.429 other fields don't really have a 427 00:13:53.430 --> 00:13:55.709 stake in this terrain. 428 00:13:55.710 --> 00:13:57.572 It's also seen as elitist. 429 00:13:59.190 --> 00:14:01.199 Nature is something 430 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:03.089 only certain elites have 431 00:14:03.090 --> 00:14:05.039 the time to worry about 432 00:14:05.040 --> 00:14:06.539 or think about. 433 00:14:06.540 --> 00:14:08.669 And I mean, that definitely reflects 434 00:14:08.670 --> 00:14:10.889 this part of the idea 435 00:14:10.890 --> 00:14:11.890 that nature 436 00:14:12.990 --> 00:14:14.759 is that which is separate from 437 00:14:14.760 --> 00:14:15.929 humans. 438 00:14:15.930 --> 00:14:17.339 It's the countryside. 439 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.839 It's somewhere else, somewhere far 440 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:21.299 away. It's not manmade. 441 00:14:21.300 --> 00:14:22.949 For Dr. Heller, museums occupy a 442 00:14:22.950 --> 00:14:24.389 space between journalism and 443 00:14:24.390 --> 00:14:26.039 universities and have the potential 444 00:14:26.040 --> 00:14:27.329 to move people towards new 445 00:14:27.330 --> 00:14:28.889 understandings of their relationship 446 00:14:28.890 --> 00:14:29.759 with nature. 447 00:14:29.760 --> 00:14:31.379 And so thinking about this 448 00:14:31.380 --> 00:14:33.259 institution of the museum, just 449 00:14:33.260 --> 00:14:34.260 to wrap up, 450 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:38.069 at the museum we do sit in 451 00:14:38.070 --> 00:14:39.959 a-- it's a very interesting place. 452 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:42.269 I'm pretty new to museums 453 00:14:42.270 --> 00:14:44.129 myself, but 454 00:14:44.130 --> 00:14:45.989 it does feel like this hybrid 455 00:14:45.990 --> 00:14:47.819 kind of institution 456 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:48.869 somewhere between 457 00:14:50.190 --> 00:14:52.049 the academy and between 458 00:14:52.050 --> 00:14:53.699 journalism. It's very focused on 459 00:14:53.700 --> 00:14:55.080 public communication. 460 00:14:56.880 --> 00:14:58.709 And our job really, in a sense, 461 00:14:58.710 --> 00:15:00.809 I think, is, as a natural 462 00:15:00.810 --> 00:15:02.699 history museum, to represent 463 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:05.189 this new, broader nature. 464 00:15:05.190 --> 00:15:08.129 This new, broader natural history 465 00:15:08.130 --> 00:15:09.130 that really 466 00:15:10.110 --> 00:15:12.329 represent that with 467 00:15:12.330 --> 00:15:14.249 and for people and 468 00:15:14.250 --> 00:15:16.169 help people to make sense of 469 00:15:16.170 --> 00:15:17.639 these complex issues. 470 00:15:19.050 --> 00:15:20.939 I think that we 471 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:23.699 have a real opportunity to help 472 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:25.679 engage people in this kind 473 00:15:25.680 --> 00:15:27.299 of civic engagement with these 474 00:15:27.300 --> 00:15:28.379 issues. 475 00:15:28.380 --> 00:15:30.809 The museum is sort of special 476 00:15:30.810 --> 00:15:31.810 in a sense in that 477 00:15:33.780 --> 00:15:35.729 people come here voluntarily, which 478 00:15:35.730 --> 00:15:37.589 is interesting, and it's 479 00:15:37.590 --> 00:15:38.590 possibly a limitation. I'm 480 00:15:40.920 --> 00:15:42.929 not sure. But it means that the way 481 00:15:42.930 --> 00:15:44.369 that we present information really 482 00:15:44.370 --> 00:15:45.899 has to be people have to want to 483 00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:47.549 come, and they want to have to spend 484 00:15:47.550 --> 00:15:49.469 their time here and even pay to 485 00:15:49.470 --> 00:15:50.470 spend their time here. 486 00:15:51.810 --> 00:15:53.549 It's multi-generational. 487 00:15:53.550 --> 00:15:54.749 So it's another-- it's a really 488 00:15:54.750 --> 00:15:56.459 interesting way that learning is 489 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:58.529 happening across generations. 490 00:15:58.530 --> 00:16:00.419 And then 491 00:16:00.420 --> 00:16:02.249 the museum as an 492 00:16:02.250 --> 00:16:03.809 institution, from what we 493 00:16:03.810 --> 00:16:04.810 understand, is 494 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.829 seen as a trusted resource 495 00:16:07.830 --> 00:16:08.639 in the community. 496 00:16:08.640 --> 00:16:10.559 And so that credibility 497 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:13.529 that we have, we have to really 498 00:16:13.530 --> 00:16:14.909 continue to 499 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.289 work with people and 500 00:16:19.080 --> 00:16:20.080 kind of 501 00:16:20.910 --> 00:16:22.199 hold ourselves to the highest 502 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.059 caliber to continue 503 00:16:24.060 --> 00:16:25.289 to maintain that trust. 504 00:16:25.290 --> 00:16:26.939 But I think that trust is also one 505 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.940 of the things that 506 00:16:28.830 --> 00:16:30.929 emboldens us to feel that we 507 00:16:30.930 --> 00:16:32.999 do need to talk about these issues 508 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.000 and help 509 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:37.019 the museum to be a space where 510 00:16:37.020 --> 00:16:39.119 people can come, and they can talk, 511 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.799 and they can feel safe to have hard 512 00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.669 conversations. 513 00:16:41.670 --> 00:16:43.949 And they can ask questions 514 00:16:43.950 --> 00:16:45.899 from the mundane 515 00:16:45.900 --> 00:16:47.069 or from the local. 516 00:16:47.070 --> 00:16:49.139 What's happening with the 517 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:51.419 cracker plant to 518 00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.679 what's happening with climate change 519 00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:53.969 all the way to what does it mean to 520 00:16:53.970 --> 00:16:56.549 be a human being 521 00:16:56.550 --> 00:16:58.679 on the planet 522 00:16:58.680 --> 00:16:59.939 at this moment in time? 523 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.589 One idea that came up multiple times 524 00:17:01.590 --> 00:17:02.969 in the conversation has to do with 525 00:17:02.970 --> 00:17:04.529 shifting discussions about nature 526 00:17:04.530 --> 00:17:06.419 from focusing on conservation to 527 00:17:06.420 --> 00:17:09.019 focusing on justice or equality. 528 00:17:09.020 --> 00:17:10.789 Reid Frazier, for example, suggested 529 00:17:10.790 --> 00:17:11.929 looking beneath Pittsburgh's 530 00:17:11.930 --> 00:17:13.759 accolades as the most livable city. 531 00:17:13.760 --> 00:17:15.649 Well, I mean, I think you 532 00:17:15.650 --> 00:17:16.939 bring up an interesting point that a 533 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.019 lot of people in Pittsburgh have 534 00:17:18.020 --> 00:17:19.909 been sort of talking about 535 00:17:19.910 --> 00:17:21.229 over the last few years, is this 536 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:22.230 idea that we're 537 00:17:23.089 --> 00:17:25.098 the "most livable city." The 538 00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:26.599 most livable for who? 539 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:29.240 And that's a great point 540 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:32.160 to bring up. 541 00:17:32.870 --> 00:17:34.609 Because what I think what it's 542 00:17:34.610 --> 00:17:37.039 suggesting is that these 543 00:17:37.040 --> 00:17:38.929 sort of laurels that Pittsburgh 544 00:17:38.930 --> 00:17:40.789 has gained in sort of a 545 00:17:40.790 --> 00:17:41.790 national perspective are 546 00:17:46.320 --> 00:17:48.719 papering over historic inequality 547 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.579 in Pittsburgh and sort 548 00:17:50.580 --> 00:17:54.039 of segregation 549 00:17:54.040 --> 00:17:55.929 along racial and class lines 550 00:17:55.930 --> 00:17:56.930 and inequality 551 00:17:58.030 --> 00:17:59.349 in school systems here. 552 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:02.559 So I think that is a 553 00:18:02.560 --> 00:18:04.689 very, very valid point. 554 00:18:04.690 --> 00:18:06.579 But I also think two things 555 00:18:06.580 --> 00:18:07.689 can be true at once. 556 00:18:07.690 --> 00:18:09.549 Like there can also-- 557 00:18:09.550 --> 00:18:11.058 I mean, it is good to have not 558 00:18:13.270 --> 00:18:14.310 just the Frick Environmental Center 559 00:18:14.311 --> 00:18:15.729 but other green buildings. 560 00:18:15.730 --> 00:18:17.739 I mean, I think those 561 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.832 pilot projects are designed 562 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.160 to 563 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:26.329 experiment and see 564 00:18:26.330 --> 00:18:27.589 if there's better ways to build 565 00:18:27.590 --> 00:18:29.509 buildings, to use 566 00:18:29.510 --> 00:18:32.029 fewer resources, because 567 00:18:32.030 --> 00:18:33.140 as probably 568 00:18:34.190 --> 00:18:36.079 100% of you in 569 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:37.295 this room understand, we're 570 00:18:39.020 --> 00:18:40.039 baking the planet. 571 00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:42.409 We're running out of resources. 572 00:18:42.410 --> 00:18:44.239 We need to live 573 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:46.129 much more efficiently as a 574 00:18:46.130 --> 00:18:47.839 species if we don't want this 575 00:18:47.840 --> 00:18:48.840 cataclysmic 576 00:18:50.170 --> 00:18:52.179 six feet of sea level rise, 577 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.709 ten degree difference by the end of 578 00:18:53.710 --> 00:18:55.629 the century kind of climate 579 00:18:55.630 --> 00:18:58.449 change to happen as is 580 00:18:58.450 --> 00:18:59.769 possible. 581 00:18:59.770 --> 00:19:01.479 So, yeah. 582 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.480 The 583 00:19:04.180 --> 00:19:05.890 whole livable city thing. 584 00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:11.199 I mean, I grew up 585 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.359 here, so when Pittsburgh was first 586 00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:15.369 voted Most Livable City, everybody 587 00:19:15.370 --> 00:19:16.449 was like, "Wait a second, 588 00:19:16.450 --> 00:19:17.829 Pittsburgh's not the worst place on 589 00:19:17.830 --> 00:19:18.729 the earth? I thought it was the 590 00:19:18.730 --> 00:19:19.730 worst place on earth." 591 00:19:22.030 --> 00:19:23.104 But I think like it's 2018. 592 00:19:23.105 --> 00:19:25.149 It's not 1985 anymore. 593 00:19:25.150 --> 00:19:27.175 So I think that's gotten-- 594 00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.609 I think we can move past that as a 595 00:19:30.610 --> 00:19:31.610 city. I think we're ready, 596 00:19:32.650 --> 00:19:33.928 and I hope that our city leaders 597 00:19:33.929 --> 00:19:34.929 will 598 00:19:35.950 --> 00:19:37.239 do that. 599 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:38.889 Professor Houser suggested that 600 00:19:38.890 --> 00:19:40.479 asking questions about justice 601 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.769 allows space for the arts and 602 00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:43.239 humanities to play a role in the 603 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.199 conversation. 604 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:45.789 I also wanted to 605 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:49.179 think about this question that Reid 606 00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:51.219 brought up around justice, 607 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.229 and which also came in through Dan's 608 00:19:53.230 --> 00:19:55.419 remarks from Rob Nixon about 609 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:57.279 this is a time of convergence 610 00:19:57.280 --> 00:20:00.699 and also a time of divergence. 611 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.700 I also, 612 00:20:02.980 --> 00:20:04.929 in my position as 613 00:20:04.930 --> 00:20:06.789 someone who champions the humanities 614 00:20:06.790 --> 00:20:08.709 and the arts, I 615 00:20:08.710 --> 00:20:10.539 think that those are places where we 616 00:20:10.540 --> 00:20:12.099 get to think about some of these 617 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:13.930 fundamental concepts and 618 00:20:15.040 --> 00:20:16.569 what are some of the entrenched 619 00:20:16.570 --> 00:20:18.369 meanings they have for different 620 00:20:18.370 --> 00:20:19.509 groups of people. 621 00:20:19.510 --> 00:20:21.519 So when you say justice 622 00:20:21.520 --> 00:20:23.529 to maybe some of the people on 623 00:20:23.530 --> 00:20:24.870 the slides or in my context, 624 00:20:26.410 --> 00:20:29.019 we're looking at varied populations 625 00:20:29.020 --> 00:20:30.939 in Texas. So maybe 626 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:32.799 have a Latino community 627 00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:34.389 in the Rio Grande Valley. 628 00:20:34.390 --> 00:20:36.849 You have rural ranchers 629 00:20:36.850 --> 00:20:39.069 in West Texas. You have 630 00:20:39.070 --> 00:20:41.679 young urbanites in Dallas. 631 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:43.629 What even the idea 632 00:20:43.630 --> 00:20:45.459 of environmental justice might 633 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:47.559 mean to these different people 634 00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:48.999 varies greatly. 635 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.889 And so, how can things 636 00:20:50.890 --> 00:20:53.109 like literature, film, 637 00:20:53.110 --> 00:20:55.539 how can those be a space where we 638 00:20:55.540 --> 00:20:57.519 play out what those different 639 00:20:57.520 --> 00:20:59.469 meanings have been and could 640 00:20:59.470 --> 00:21:01.449 possibly be in the future? 641 00:21:01.450 --> 00:21:02.799 There was also a recognition of the 642 00:21:02.800 --> 00:21:03.759 limits of working through 643 00:21:03.760 --> 00:21:05.499 institutions, such as when Professor 644 00:21:05.500 --> 00:21:06.759 Houser talked about supporting 645 00:21:06.760 --> 00:21:08.169 alternative energies at the 646 00:21:08.170 --> 00:21:09.849 University of Texas. 647 00:21:09.850 --> 00:21:11.619 This actually it gets to the heart 648 00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:13.239 of the institutional question 649 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.859 because one of the things we're 650 00:21:14.860 --> 00:21:16.029 trying to figure out is our 651 00:21:16.030 --> 00:21:17.889 relationship, our planet, Texas 652 00:21:17.890 --> 00:21:19.809 2050 relationship to this 653 00:21:19.810 --> 00:21:22.149 existing institutional 654 00:21:22.150 --> 00:21:24.249 entity at U.T., which is the Energy 655 00:21:24.250 --> 00:21:26.139 Institute, which has traditionally 656 00:21:26.140 --> 00:21:27.729 taken up those questions. 657 00:21:29.830 --> 00:21:31.468 But from, well, 658 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:35.049 how do I-- I don't know, but 659 00:21:35.050 --> 00:21:36.459 much more from the industry 660 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:38.229 perspective and not from the 661 00:21:38.230 --> 00:21:40.029 perspective of addressing something 662 00:21:40.030 --> 00:21:41.739 like climate change and population 663 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.029 growth, which is not to say they're 664 00:21:43.030 --> 00:21:44.769 all like pro-fracking or 665 00:21:44.770 --> 00:21:45.770 pro-extractivism, 666 00:21:46.870 --> 00:21:48.369 but just it's been much more of an 667 00:21:48.370 --> 00:21:49.989 industry perspective rather than 668 00:21:49.990 --> 00:21:51.819 like we are a state facing a 669 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:53.221 crisis for these reasons. 670 00:21:53.222 --> 00:21:55.209 What can we change or do 671 00:21:55.210 --> 00:21:56.860 for the future perspective? 672 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.699 So we're still trying to figure out 673 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:01.689 like energy. 674 00:22:01.690 --> 00:22:03.849 We decided we had really 675 00:22:03.850 --> 00:22:05.889 four big pillars we wanted to 676 00:22:05.890 --> 00:22:08.619 address, which are urbanization, 677 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:10.449 energy, water, 678 00:22:10.450 --> 00:22:12.309 and public 679 00:22:12.310 --> 00:22:13.239 health, basically. 680 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:15.159 And these all tie into each 681 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.419 other. But we just wanted to make 682 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:18.249 sure those were big focuses of the 683 00:22:18.250 --> 00:22:20.199 project over the around 684 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.729 eight years we will exist, 685 00:22:23.020 --> 00:22:24.939 so we sort of bit off 686 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.289 the easier fruit. 687 00:22:26.290 --> 00:22:27.290 Is that right? 688 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.169 That sounded all wrong. 689 00:22:29.170 --> 00:22:31.149 What is that like, low-hanging 690 00:22:31.150 --> 00:22:33.189 fruit? I'm mixing all my metaphors. 691 00:22:33.190 --> 00:22:34.479 I'm the worst at proverbial 692 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.069 expressions. It's kind of funny. 693 00:22:36.070 --> 00:22:37.779 Yeah, we definitely a bit off more 694 00:22:37.780 --> 00:22:38.739 than we can chew. 695 00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.939 But the first thing was the 696 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:41.200 low-hanging fruit, and 697 00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:44.199 that was water because the 698 00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:45.200 energy. And 699 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.319 yeah, we have to figure out that 700 00:22:47.320 --> 00:22:48.429 collaboration. 701 00:22:48.430 --> 00:22:49.749 But what's so interesting is the 702 00:22:49.750 --> 00:22:52.029 other thing that Texas is so good 703 00:22:52.030 --> 00:22:53.469 with is wind. 704 00:22:53.470 --> 00:22:55.479 And you probably 705 00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.639 know more about this than me, but 706 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:59.979 it's a huge wind generator, 707 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:02.409 and it has a huge wind generation 708 00:23:02.410 --> 00:23:03.410 potential, 709 00:23:05.050 --> 00:23:07.029 and that does get 710 00:23:07.030 --> 00:23:07.839 stymied. 711 00:23:07.840 --> 00:23:09.609 And even though there are similar 712 00:23:09.610 --> 00:23:10.810 rationales and 713 00:23:11.830 --> 00:23:13.599 typically conservative values that 714 00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:15.039 might make that 715 00:23:16.270 --> 00:23:17.919 an increasingly viable and 716 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:20.079 attractive energy form, 717 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:22.239 you just get the industry pushback. 718 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.709 So that's certainly something that 719 00:23:23.710 --> 00:23:25.629 we want to discover 720 00:23:25.630 --> 00:23:27.579 and like how can you tap into 721 00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:29.559 values people have and 722 00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:31.929 sort of orient them maybe 723 00:23:31.930 --> 00:23:33.651 toward-- and this is language. 724 00:23:33.652 --> 00:23:35.619 I actually shouldn't have said 725 00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:37.689 it that way because this language 726 00:23:37.690 --> 00:23:39.819 and even gestures of coercion 727 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:41.589 and making people do things is what 728 00:23:41.590 --> 00:23:42.819 we're trying to avoid. 729 00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:45.099 But yeah, it's hard. 730 00:23:45.100 --> 00:23:46.929 It's just like we have this 731 00:23:46.930 --> 00:23:47.709 potential. 732 00:23:47.710 --> 00:23:49.989 It hooks into these values. 733 00:23:49.990 --> 00:23:51.939 What is actually getting in 734 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:53.649 the way of that is something we want 735 00:23:53.650 --> 00:23:55.149 to understand. 736 00:23:55.150 --> 00:23:56.469 But the panelists agreed that it was 737 00:23:56.470 --> 00:23:57.699 impossible to achieve their 738 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:59.409 environmental goals without engaging 739 00:23:59.410 --> 00:24:01.119 and listening to their public. 740 00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.649 For Dr. Heller, the museum needs to 741 00:24:02.650 --> 00:24:04.089 be clear about their messages 742 00:24:04.090 --> 00:24:05.679 without shying away from difficult 743 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.729 conversations. 744 00:24:06.730 --> 00:24:08.559 Yes, it's a great 745 00:24:08.560 --> 00:24:10.839 question. And I'm pretty new here, 746 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:11.919 so I'll preface that. 747 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:13.809 So I can speak for what do I 748 00:24:13.810 --> 00:24:14.810 think? 749 00:24:16.270 --> 00:24:17.289 But also reflecting the 750 00:24:17.290 --> 00:24:19.299 conversations that we have, 751 00:24:19.300 --> 00:24:20.300 other staff, and 752 00:24:22.360 --> 00:24:24.279 the motivation we have to take on 753 00:24:24.280 --> 00:24:26.079 the Anthropocene is really that 754 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:28.179 motivation that we feel 755 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:30.039 that we, as an 756 00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:32.379 institution, we have an obligation 757 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:34.299 to speak more clearly to 758 00:24:34.300 --> 00:24:35.639 these issues that there are 759 00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:37.499 connections between 760 00:24:37.500 --> 00:24:38.500 the 761 00:24:40.410 --> 00:24:42.359 natural history that we share 762 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:44.159 in our halls, the deep time 763 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.128 perspective, the geology. 764 00:24:49.470 --> 00:24:50.999 And if you go through geology, you 765 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.979 go through deep time in dinosaurs, 766 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.389 you learn about extinction in the 767 00:24:54.390 --> 00:24:55.390 ancient past, 768 00:24:58.170 --> 00:25:00.179 that deep time is incredibly 769 00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:02.069 relevant for understanding these 770 00:25:02.070 --> 00:25:04.379 issues that we face 771 00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:06.149 and that we have an obligation to 772 00:25:06.150 --> 00:25:08.729 connect that information 773 00:25:08.730 --> 00:25:11.219 to these very real 774 00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:13.079 issues that people are facing in 775 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:15.059 their lives. And so I think 776 00:25:15.060 --> 00:25:17.759 one way we can help 777 00:25:17.760 --> 00:25:19.469 facilitate this dialogue is to be 778 00:25:19.470 --> 00:25:21.719 talking about it in clear terms, 779 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.720 like you say, 780 00:25:24.210 --> 00:25:26.309 in not shying away from 781 00:25:26.310 --> 00:25:28.139 these topics and in 782 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.999 making those connections for people, 783 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.219 helping people connect the dots more 784 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.220 between 785 00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:35.879 the information that's out there 786 00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:38.609 about the history of Earth 787 00:25:38.610 --> 00:25:40.559 with the things that they're hearing 788 00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:42.629 about in reading about in the news. 789 00:25:42.630 --> 00:25:44.189 But they don't really necessarily 790 00:25:44.190 --> 00:25:46.109 have the ability 791 00:25:46.110 --> 00:25:47.160 to understand them. 792 00:25:48.690 --> 00:25:50.729 So how can we serve sort of 793 00:25:50.730 --> 00:25:52.829 in that boundary role of helping 794 00:25:52.830 --> 00:25:53.830 people 795 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:56.519 connect the dots and understand that 796 00:25:56.520 --> 00:25:57.929 when they leave here, they might 797 00:25:57.930 --> 00:25:59.489 say, "Oh, now I understand that 798 00:25:59.490 --> 00:26:01.379 story that I 799 00:26:01.380 --> 00:26:03.149 heard on the Allegheny front." That 800 00:26:03.150 --> 00:26:04.409 that would be-- 801 00:26:04.410 --> 00:26:06.449 That's really what I was getting 802 00:26:06.450 --> 00:26:07.450 it. 803 00:26:09.090 --> 00:26:10.529 It must be really hard because you 804 00:26:10.530 --> 00:26:11.530 can't just like, say, go 805 00:26:12.510 --> 00:26:15.149 to the Hall of Gems and be like, 806 00:26:15.150 --> 00:26:16.439 "But look over here. 807 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.579 Look at what all these gems have 808 00:26:17.580 --> 00:26:19.769 done." There's that coal 809 00:26:19.770 --> 00:26:21.629 elevator that has been there since 810 00:26:21.630 --> 00:26:22.630 I was a kid. 811 00:26:23.520 --> 00:26:25.559 So it must be 812 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:28.979 hard, not just like from a physical 813 00:26:28.980 --> 00:26:30.899 perspective of building 814 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:32.549 a new climate change wing on the 815 00:26:32.550 --> 00:26:33.550 museum, but just-- 816 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.939 I don't know. As an institution, 817 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:38.039 there's probably hurdles. 818 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.769 Yes, absolutely. 819 00:26:40.770 --> 00:26:42.869 I mean, and one of the things 820 00:26:42.870 --> 00:26:44.249 that I've been interested to notice 821 00:26:44.250 --> 00:26:46.109 when coming in is it's like, well, 822 00:26:46.110 --> 00:26:47.110 we got to change that. That's 823 00:26:48.690 --> 00:26:50.279 ancient, right? 824 00:26:50.280 --> 00:26:51.329 And people say, "No, no. 825 00:26:51.330 --> 00:26:52.139 Don't touch that. 826 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:52.949 It was like that when I was a kid-- 827 00:26:52.950 --> 00:26:53.699 Don't touch that dragonfly. 828 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.036 don't ever change it." And so 829 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.629 right. It's historic. 830 00:26:57.630 --> 00:26:58.949 And so I think that is one of the 831 00:26:58.950 --> 00:27:00.093 things that we're really realizing 832 00:27:00.094 --> 00:27:01.949 that's kind 833 00:27:01.950 --> 00:27:03.869 of our challenge 834 00:27:03.870 --> 00:27:05.399 here at this museum. And what we 835 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:08.069 want to do is how do we 836 00:27:08.070 --> 00:27:10.019 not get rid of the history but 837 00:27:10.020 --> 00:27:12.119 use the history 838 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.529 and make those connect. 839 00:27:13.530 --> 00:27:15.659 Kind of use the history, but also 840 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:17.549 update it and make the connections 841 00:27:17.550 --> 00:27:19.589 and kind of continuously 842 00:27:19.590 --> 00:27:21.239 look back and forward. 843 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.240 And 844 00:27:24.090 --> 00:27:25.649 I don't know of another museum 845 00:27:25.650 --> 00:27:26.759 that's really done that. 846 00:27:26.760 --> 00:27:28.799 And so we really are 847 00:27:28.800 --> 00:27:31.199 trying to figure out our own 848 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.289 pathway here and 849 00:27:34.170 --> 00:27:36.599 respect to this historical 850 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.759 institution, but use that. 851 00:27:38.760 --> 00:27:40.979 I talk a lot about the-- people 852 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:42.179 say, "Oh, you're collecting. 853 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:43.349 You're curator of the Anthropocene. 854 00:27:43.350 --> 00:27:45.239 What are you collecting?" And 855 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:47.129 I haven't exactly figured that out, 856 00:27:47.130 --> 00:27:49.079 but there's 857 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:49.859 so many things. 858 00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:51.719 But I like to think of the museum 859 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:53.699 itself as the object because 860 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:55.529 it's this object that has 861 00:27:55.530 --> 00:27:56.579 been collected. 862 00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:58.439 If the Anthropocene started in 863 00:27:58.440 --> 00:28:00.809 1945, 864 00:28:00.810 --> 00:28:03.959 which is what geological 865 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:06.029 scientists are 866 00:28:06.030 --> 00:28:08.219 proposing with the great 867 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:10.049 acceleration with atomic bomb 868 00:28:10.050 --> 00:28:11.050 testing, 869 00:28:12.600 --> 00:28:14.429 then that means the Carnegie 870 00:28:14.430 --> 00:28:16.018 Museums have been collecting across 871 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:20.099 this transition from a previous 872 00:28:20.100 --> 00:28:22.289 epic, the Holocene, to 873 00:28:22.290 --> 00:28:23.069 this current epic. 874 00:28:23.070 --> 00:28:24.899 So it's an incredible 875 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:26.789 sort of window into this period of 876 00:28:26.790 --> 00:28:28.739 time that is 877 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.599 so important 878 00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:32.729 in our planet's history. 879 00:28:32.730 --> 00:28:34.019 Professor Houser concluded by 880 00:28:34.020 --> 00:28:35.459 pointing out how important it is for 881 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.929 universities to move beyond their 882 00:28:36.930 --> 00:28:38.549 traditional role as providers of 883 00:28:38.550 --> 00:28:39.419 expertize. 884 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:42.599 Well, one of the-- in my particular 885 00:28:42.600 --> 00:28:44.459 institution, 886 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:45.690 I think one of the things is making 887 00:28:47.560 --> 00:28:48.844 people, researchers, listen, 888 00:28:51.830 --> 00:28:53.329 which I'm not saying that's how I 889 00:28:53.330 --> 00:28:54.739 typically-- that's not necessarily 890 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.929 one of my methodologies. 891 00:28:56.930 --> 00:28:59.389 So we produce, we describe, 892 00:28:59.390 --> 00:29:02.149 we measure, we conceptualize, 893 00:29:02.150 --> 00:29:03.799 and that's all really important. 894 00:29:03.800 --> 00:29:05.299 But I think one of the things that 895 00:29:07.070 --> 00:29:09.199 it's important to do at a moment, 896 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.209 this moment, is to do 897 00:29:11.210 --> 00:29:13.249 all that work and then to also 898 00:29:13.250 --> 00:29:14.599 listen. Because one of the 899 00:29:14.600 --> 00:29:16.099 disconnects that I think is 900 00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:18.019 happening, as you were saying like 901 00:29:18.020 --> 00:29:19.519 scientists are describing and 902 00:29:19.520 --> 00:29:21.829 describing and describing. 903 00:29:21.830 --> 00:29:23.809 And even if you listen to 904 00:29:23.810 --> 00:29:25.729 well-intentioned climate 905 00:29:25.730 --> 00:29:28.519 reporting, you get the sense-- 906 00:29:28.520 --> 00:29:30.439 maybe not when a hurricane is 907 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:32.389 like hitting us in 908 00:29:32.390 --> 00:29:33.229 a moment. 909 00:29:33.230 --> 00:29:35.179 But most other times, you 910 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:36.739 hear a lot of reporting or ways of 911 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:38.479 talking about climate change that 912 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.219 makes it seem elsewhere or at 913 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.220 another time. 914 00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:44.282 And the research, 915 00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:48.319 I feel like if we listen to what 916 00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:50.779 people are experiencing 917 00:29:50.780 --> 00:29:52.609 and bring the research that 918 00:29:52.610 --> 00:29:54.739 we're doing to bear, 919 00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:57.619 like make that more interactive, 920 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:59.599 we cannot make it seem like this 921 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:01.459 is something that's going to happen 922 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:03.170 or is happening somewhere else. 923 00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.069 One of the myriads 924 00:30:07.070 --> 00:30:10.099 of challenges is making 925 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:12.409 climate change feel actually 926 00:30:12.410 --> 00:30:13.399 occurring. 927 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:15.439 Because until that happens for 928 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:17.479 everyone-- because it is actually 929 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.920 occurring for everyone, 930 00:30:20.090 --> 00:30:21.769 and just the way it gets talked 931 00:30:21.770 --> 00:30:22.939 about is like it's actually 932 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:24.649 occurring over here. 933 00:30:24.650 --> 00:30:26.539 And certainly, it is maybe more than 934 00:30:26.540 --> 00:30:28.489 over there, but until it's felt 935 00:30:28.490 --> 00:30:30.509 is actually occurring, 936 00:30:30.510 --> 00:30:32.329 it'll be very hard to 937 00:30:32.330 --> 00:30:34.369 get anything done on 938 00:30:34.370 --> 00:30:36.079 a time scale that it needs to get 939 00:30:36.080 --> 00:30:37.399 done. 940 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.839 And I think a big part of that 941 00:30:38.840 --> 00:30:39.840 actually occurringness is, okay, how 942 00:30:41.330 --> 00:30:43.459 are people experiencing whatever 943 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.539 they might be calling it. 944 00:30:44.540 --> 00:30:46.039 They might not be calling it climate 945 00:30:46.040 --> 00:30:47.040 change. And 946 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:51.049 bring those narratives and 947 00:30:51.050 --> 00:30:53.239 the research we do 948 00:30:53.240 --> 00:30:54.619 together somehow. 949 00:30:57.150 --> 00:30:59.549 So I think that's one 950 00:30:59.550 --> 00:31:00.550 approach that some 951 00:31:01.470 --> 00:31:03.629 are taking, and that could be 952 00:31:03.630 --> 00:31:06.599 more fruitful than we produce 953 00:31:06.600 --> 00:31:08.339 knowledge and then put it out there. 954 00:31:10.170 --> 00:31:11.848 But yeah, that's one thought. 955 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:14.249 That's it for this episode of Being 956 00:31:14.250 --> 00:31:15.089 Human. 957 00:31:15.090 --> 00:31:16.589 This episode was produced by Noah 958 00:31:16.590 --> 00:31:18.389 Livingston, Humanities Media Fellow 959 00:31:18.390 --> 00:31:20.249 at the University of Pittsburgh. 960 00:31:20.250 --> 00:31:21.809 Stay tuned next time for a special 961 00:31:21.810 --> 00:31:23.249 interview with Kazuo Hara, 962 00:31:23.250 --> 00:31:25.079 documentary filmmaker and winner of 963 00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:26.789 the first biennial University of 964 00:31:26.790 --> 00:31:29.369 Pittsburgh, Japan Documentary Award. 965 00:31:29.370 --> 00:31:30.370 Thanks for listening.
Reddit
Twitter
Facebook