Exploring Interdisciplinary Frontiers at NEREID's Our Changing Planet Summit

From June 12th to 14th, 2023, the NEREID's "Our Changing Planet" Summit convened a diverse group of minds under one roof. Researchers, educators, policymakers, indigenous knowledge holders, and other curious minds delved into interdisciplinary collaboration and convergence science as a way to address our world's most pressing challenges.

The summit’s "Our Changing Planet" theme drove discussions toward understanding convergence science processes and forging new cross-disciplinary partnerships with the goal of better understanding changes we are experiencing in the environment around us. By empowering novel collaborations and connecting with current and future NEREID members, the summit promised an enriching experience for all participants.

Building Bridges Across Disciplines The opening day set the tone for the event, embracing a mix of engaging activities, captivating panels, and thought-provoking talks. The icebreaker activity had participants weaving stories that intertwined images of whales, mountains, planets, and more, fostering connections among strangers.

The keynote panel featured luminaries such as: David Grinspoon, astrobiologist and Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute; Nirav Merchant, systems engineer and lead of Cyverse, a national-scale cyberinfrastructure for life sciences; Martin Ogle, naturalist and founder of Entrepreneurial Earth, and Gretchen Stahlman, Library & Information Scientist at Rutgers University. These experts discussed the intersections of their work and what led them to their respective fields. Their insights into the potential outcomes of convergence across earth and space sciences set the stage for fruitful discussions.

Caption: Summit participants listening to the keynote panel discussion as David Grinspoon speaks into the mic.

Lightning talks further grew the intellectual spark with subjects spanning from space exploration and medical technology to Indigenous law and perspectives on global warming. These succinct presentations gave participants a glimpse into the wealth of ideas and research represented at the summit and empowered them as experts in their respective areas of study. “The network in attendance was creative and mutually supportive,” said one summit participant. “The indigenous perspectives helped to open our eyes and hearts to new ways of thinking.”

To introduce the unconference format that would guide the rest of the summit, participants engaged in meandering small group discussions with the World Café activity. The groups explored emerging themes, from collaboration and interdisciplinary practice to bridging science and community.

As the first day drew to a close, participants gathered outside the meeting venue, where they engaged in a thought-provoking installment of NEREID’s popular “Convergence On Tap” series, this one centered on recently discovered exoplanets. Divided into groups, attendees were tasked with unraveling the mysteries of distant worlds. Through insightful discussions, participants pondered what life might be like on the surface of these exoplanets, considering the conditions, atmospheres, and potential inhabitants. This imaginative exercise drew parallels between the Earth and these otherworldly landscapes, prompting participants to explore the potential for convergence between Earth and space sciences. This activity fostered a deeper understanding of the scientific process and highlighted the boundless curiosity that drives interdisciplinary exploration.

Participant-Driven Exploration The second day embraced the spirit of participant-driven exploration and challenged everyone to meaningfully contribute to the discussion. Groups gathered to discuss self-selected topics, with discussions ebbing and flowing in an open and dynamic exchange of ideas. Post-it notes captured thoughts in motion, symbolizing the organic flow of interdisciplinary discourse.

Caption: Summit Participants gather around a wall where the day’s agenda is being written.

“It was wonderful to see participants fully commit,” said summit organizing committee member Tiffany Stone Wolbrecht. “We asked people to create and lead their own sessions on topics they were interested in exploring, and they went for it! The results were fascinating.” Projects began to take shape, reflecting the summit's emphasis on practical solutions. Curricula to teach convergence through the Drake Equation, Inclusive approaches to STEM Education, and innovative uses of technology in education emerged as some of the proposed ideas.

In the afternoon, projects began to crystallize, shifting from ideation to practical application. Ideas were refined, molded, and expanded upon, with the overarching goal of translating theoretical concepts into tangible projects with real-world impact. The spirit of collaboration was palpable, with participants sharing insights, resources, and visions for the future. The day's discussions were a testament to the transformative power of interdisciplinary thinking and the potential for convergence science to forge new paths toward a brighter future.

As the sun set on the second day, participants were treated to an exclusive screening of the planetarium show "Living Worlds" at the David M. Brown Planetarium in Arlington, VA. This special evening activity added a captivating dimension to the event's exploration of convergence science. Attendees had the chance to step away from discussions and immerse themselves in a visual and educational experience that echoed the summit's theme of interconnectedness.

Crafting Visions and Strategies The final day was a synthesis of practical insights and visionary strategies. An introductory seminar on effective grant writing provided participants with tools to transform their ideas into actionable proposals.

Participants also discussed NEREID's future, reflecting on its role as a multidisciplinary educational outreach organization. The focus remained on facilitating collaborations, better understanding data, and connecting researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs.

NEREID's “Our Changing Planet” summit concluded on a note of possibility and potential. One summit participant commented, “I have met several driven passionate folks with whom I am collaborating on at least two proposals. I didn’t know much, but learned a great deal about NEREID and the capacity for convergent thinking.” The event succeeded in encouraging collaboration beyond traditional boundaries and demonstrating that, by uniting diverse perspectives, we can chart a course toward a brighter future for our planet.

Caption: NEREID summit group photo

NEREID Presents: The Gaia Paradigm – a scientific and metaphoric bridge for education

Live Online Presentation and Discussion Thursday, September 28 at 3pm US Eastern

Join us as naturalist Martin Ogle shares the history of how the term "Gaia" came to be attached to a body of science that ultimately catalyzed the transition from "Earth Science" to "Earth System Science." While giving examples of how discoveries of "Gaian Scientists" are now mainstream science, he will also make the case that the metaphor, "Gaia," holds great potential for addressing the tremendous challenges that our society faces today.

The metaphor, Gaia, was suggested by novelist, William Golding (author of “Lord of the Flies”) to honor the fact that Western Science was rediscovering what ancient Western Culture knew in at a mythic, gut level that Earth is alive in some sense. Martin proposes that a “Gaia Paradigm” – the confluence of scientific and cultural understandings of Earth as a living system of which we are a seamless continuum – can lend greatly needed context, content and inspiration to education.

Registration for this event is now closed.

About the Presenter

Martin Ogle holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and Virginia Tech, respectively, and his Masters thesis was on aspects of mink ecology in Virginia: reproductive cycles, heavy metal toxicology and aging techniques. Martin was Chief Naturalist for the No. Virginia Regional Park Authority 1985 - 2012.

In 2010, Martin was awarded the Krupsaw Award for Non-Traditional Teaching by the Washington Academy of Sciences for outstanding teaching in informal and non-academic settings. In 2012 - Martin received the Arlington Green Patriot Award for outstanding work in sustainability (given by George Mason Univ., Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services, & Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment.)

Since 1990, Martin has promoted a widespread understanding of the Gaia Theory through lectures, courses, writings, a major conference on the subject (2006), and hundreds of programs (at schools, universities, libraries, parks, organizations, and other venues). He believes that a "Gaia Paradigm" will be an important catalyst for bringing science and cultures together to address the challenges we face.

Martin and his family (wife, Lisa, and twins, Cyrus and Linnea) moved to Louisville, CO in August, 2012, where he founded Entrepreneurial Earth, LLC. Martin was born and raised much of his younger life in South Korea.

Onward for “On Tap!”

After a summer hiatus, NEREID is set to resume hosting “Convergence On Tap!” with a stellar topic and lineup of speakers. The next event will be held on Thursday, September 23rd at 7:30 pm eastern-time via Zoom with the enigmatic theme “Secret Oceans: Below and Beyond”.

As the NEREID: Convergence On Tap! Planning Committee looks forward to another stimulating evening of new ideas and cross-disciplinary networking, we’re also warmly reflecting on the previous session, held on May 26th, 2021. Titled “Sea the Stars”, panelists for this event included:

• Dr. Travis Horton, Associate Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand;

• Feather Metsch, Immersive and interactive A/V storyteller and member of The Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians; and

• Dr. Michel André, Biotechnology Engineer at the National Institute of Applied Science in Toulouse, France.

This unique combination of speakers showcased convergent perspectives on ocean research, migration of marine mammals and indigenous knowledge.

Dr. Travis Horton’s presentation addressed the topic of whale navigation, introducing the question: “How do animals navigate? It’s a 3000-year-old mystery, and we still don’t have an answer, we don’t have a mechanistic understanding”.

Arguing that whales navigate using a combination of gravity and magnetism, Horton noted that this “grand challenge” scientific research problem can be best addressed through a convergent approach. Horton explained, “One of the amazing opportunities before us as a community is the convergence between the biology, the geology, the physics, the data science, the numerical modeling of a data based solution to classic problems.”

Horton’s concluding remarks described how indigenous peoples historically held deep knowledge of migratory patterns, which seamlessly led into Feather Metsch’s presentation highlighting indigenous worldviews.

“In the way we build everything”, said Metsch, “we’re mapping out how we see everything around us and how we imagine the universe.”

Metsch provided examples from various tribes such as design of dwellings that reflect cardinal directions, hand tattoos used for seafaring navigation, and celestial patterns woven into blankets that embody cultural beliefs and religious practices.

Where much traditional knowledge faced cultural extinction decades ago, Metsch’s presentation demonstrated that concerted efforts are being made by indigenous groups to reclaim and preserve language, historical knowledge and harmony between humans and nature.

Dr. Michel André rounded out the panel with a description of his research on the importance of sound in the natural world, particularly focusing on human-generated noise in marine environments, with implications for offshore industries that impact these environments.

“Without sound, the life in the ocean would not exist”, said André. “We know that light doesn’t penetrate more than a few meters below the surface, and sound is really the support for communication for all the inhabitants of the ocean, and if we pollute these channels of communication, we are challenging the survival of the ocean and the survival of the whole planet”.

André’s work has found that different species can share information through sound, and that codes of communication can be identified through components of sounds. This discovery points to a need for human awareness and action to preserve Earth’s delicate ecosystems.

“Human beings should be part of nature”, concluded André.

Following these fascinating presentations, attendees were then placed into breakout groups for a brainstorming session. Playing on the well-known “walks into a bar” joke genre, the breakout activity centered around a scenario in which a pre-selected combination of three individuals (for example, a space executive, policymaker, and ship captain) discuss breaking news about a hypothetical discovery that humpback whales navigate using the stars.

Primed by the panel presentations, On Tap! participants enjoyed light-hearted conversation over drinks about the implications of such a discovery for humanity, society, and earth-space convergence.

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So … what mysteries about the universe will be revealed at our next On Tap! event on September 23rd? Be there to find out!