Notes for lecture 6 - April 15

1. Discussion of Walk 2

a. questions that I asked were:

• impressions from the walk related to class
• scale of objects that you observed
• plant purpose in an ecosystem vs its use by humans
• what other senses did you use, were these valuable

b. how to make this a "formal" curricular activity

 

2. Discussion of Speth chaps 2 and 3

Chapter 2 - summary of main points

discuss

 

claim - religion of growth, growth needed for development

Jeremy Sachs - getting out of poverty through development

Norgaard - myth of economic growth/development as progress

 

claim - if you can't measure something you can't manage it

we measure GDP and other financial constructs closely

Atul Gawande - we aren't even close to measuring health costs and effectiveness

 

l

Chapter 3 - summary of main points

discuss

 

3. Structure of information - heuristics

a. heuristic vs. algorithm

algorithm - set of instructions that you follow to solve a problem

heuristic - an approach to getting more information about a problem and, maybe, the solution will follow

examples:

Recognition Heuristic

works because the structure of the information

if it works, means that there is a particular structure

PMI

explores the different types of information that may be available to you

 

b. Using a set of different approaches as a heuristic

simple example, try all the tools in your toolbox to see what causes anything to happen

• wrench
• hammer
• screwdriver
• prying tool
• torch

cognitive toolbox

distilled disciplinary approaches

Tool/Viewer	Salient features	link
Pattern	spatial or temporal features look for similarities to patterns caused by known sets of processes describe the likelihood that the hypothesis that you choose to describe the pattern is the correct one	chap 4
Systems	examine stocks of matter or energy, flows and control mechanisms look for mass or energy balance limitations or feedbacks in the regulation describe the behavior of all the components that are linked together through quantifiable flows	chap 5
Scale	note the size and time dimensions for objects and processes look for connections between scales such as lake scale to watershed scale describe objects and processes relationships in terms of relative scale	chap 6
Network	processes are described with a primary focus on the interaction of relationships between actors and environment look for weak and strong linkages that may be of very different types (pollination by bees vs. herbivory) describe the network and in particular look for aspects that contribute to the resilience	chap 7
Accounting	make observations of measurable quanities that can be abstracted and used to help someone make a decision need to determine what can and can't be measured and make sure items or processes aren't double counted or left out ?describe the flow of information to make a decision	chap 8
Games	decisions may have to be made in the absence of information about what other players or the environment will do, how to address these decisions systematically	chap 10
Risk/Uncertainty	what can be known and estimated as a probability vs. what are different types of ways we are uncertain	chap 11
Values and World Views	converging or self-reinforcing values lead to patterns of world views based on underlying values people make decisions based on their values identify linkages between world views and environmental decisions that can be addressed through more information, changing considered values, or intellectual tools	chap 9
Cooperative action and Institutions	institutions process information and set up conditions so that groups can make decisions and solve problems what problems require institutions or require that current institutions be changed	chap 12

 

c. Example

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation

basic scenario - trees sequester carbon dioxide, cutting or destroying trees should be avoided because it will reduce CO2 emissions

problem that you need information for - what can we learn about forest growth and/or degradation that would help us understand how to avoid these emissions

probe with	type of outcome
patterns	There may be patterns in the growth of trees on the landscape but this doesn't seem to be directly relevant to the problem.
systems	It is possible to describe the growth of a forest, flows of carbon, soil nutrition, water and other factors.
scale	processes in the forest and the surrounding areas around the forest can be described in terms of spatial scale the time scale of forest loss and degradation also seems important
network	the many interacting weak and strong factors are important in forests ecology. The concept of resilience is crucial for describing forest health.
accounting	The problem of counting carbon vs. who gets paid for the carbon that stays sequestered is an accounting problem. This view and systems are probably the two most important.
games	If the forest is considered a commons, then the games interpretation of the "tragedy of the commons" is salient.
risk/uncertainty	Many factors that relate to carbon sequestration are uncertain. In particular forest diseases and fires are very unpredictable at any one point. relates to scale of the operation and the overall risk management strategy that can be employed
values-world views	A world view that would privilege "market" approaches
institutions	treaties, protocols, and contracts that cover how a carbon market would work are all dependent on cooperating institutions