Our modern civilization has created a triple challenge that is threatening the future of humanity and the health of the Earth's life-support system, on which the welfare of all human and non-human life depends. Here at MARI, we aim to provide transformational education with the goal to foster holistic systems thinking, literacy in information, risk, and sustainability as well as carry out research related to the triple challenge. We want to bring into the public discussion use-ready knowledge on adaptation to modern global change to the public.We welcome new members who want to collaborate with us on education, research and outreach.
[Nov. 17, 2024] Social and Environmental Resilience Coordinator (Management Analyst III): The Office of Resilience of the City of Norfolk is seeking a Management Analyst III who will serve as the Social & Environmental Resilience Coordinator. For more information see the job page.
[Nov. 17, 2024] Summer 2025 Internship Opportunity with the City of Norfolk: The City of Norfolk Executive Internship Program is a ten-week program that provides work-based learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students with a desire to work in local level government. The position is listed as Executive Intern (Municipal Intern II) on the City’s job site. The deadline to apply for the City of Norfolk’s Executive Internship Program is January 26, 2025.
MARI VCC News
[Sep. 21, 2024] Conservation is only necessary as a result of colonialism: The article published on July 11, 2024 in The Guardian by Danielle Khan Da Silva titled “In the footsteps of tigers: the all-women patrol team protecting Sumatra’s rainforest” makes an important point: “We have to remember that conservation is only necessary as a result of colonialism and the forced displacement of Indigenous people who have stewarded the land for thousands of years. This is the true root of the conservation issues Sumatra faces.”
[Sep. 21, 2024] Invasive species simplify the ecosystem they invade: The Guardian article by Patrick Barkham published on June 28, 2024 and titled &lqduo;Should we cull one species to save another?” raises an important question. Are we the ones who decide who should live and who should die? But it also makes clear what invasive species do to an ecosystem: “When highly invasive species, such as rats and cats, are put on to relatively unaltered ecosystems, they simplify that ecosystem. We’re ending up with very simple systems that tend to be the same across the globe, with black rats, cockroaches and exotic weeds. What’s important is to maintain biodiversity. Simplified systems are also not as efficient as the original ones in terms of carbon sequestration and the production of oxygen. We should be thinking about biodiversity and complex functional systems.”
[Sep. 21, 2024] We need a new approach to biodiversity loss: Olivia Nater published a highly relevant blog in May 2024 titled “Everything is connected: We need a new approach to biodiversity loss.” Reflecting on on humanity’s failure to halt the extinction crisis, she comes to the conclusion that we need a new approach to conservation: we need to tackle what she identifies as the root cause: overpopulation.
