Call for Action: Proposal to Establish a Planetary Science / Planetary Management Department at Major Universities

Copyright © 2003 Joseph George Caldwell.  All rights reserved.  Posted at Internet website http://www.foundationwebsite.org.  May be copied or reposted for non-commercial use, with attribution to author and website.  (16 January 2003)

Because the current system of planetary management (large human numbers and industrial activity) is causing mass species extinctions, there is an urgent need for widespread discussion of alternative planetary management schemes.  The Foundation website ( http://www.foundationwebsite.org ) has initiated discussion of this subject, but the public awareness of the site and its concepts is very limited.  I propose to establish departments of planetary science / planetary management at major universities, preferably in countries speaking different languages and located around the world, to address the planet’s human-caused mass species extinction, identify planetary management schemes that will solve the problem, discuss methods for their implementation, and prepare for their establishment.

I hereby request visitors to the Foundation websites to pass this proposal along to relevant parties, including universities that might be willing to establish and operate such a department, and philanthropists who might be interested and willing to underwrite the costs of doing so.

Below is a tentative list of courses for a one-year program of study leading to a Master’s degree in Planetary Science or Planetary Management.

Proposed Courses for Semesters 1 and 2 (each course three hours’ credit):

1.  Understanding the Earth’s Biosphere (biology, ecology, environmental science, chemistry, physics)

2.  Human Nature and History (understanding human history à la Arnold Toynbee (A Study of History), human social and political systems (e.g., feudalism, capitalism, socialism, Marxism, Plato’s “republic,” synarchy), sociology, psychology, religion, spiritual science, economics)

3.  Long-Term-Sustainable Planetary Management (minimal-regret populations, synarchy; synthesis and evaluation of alternatives; implementation plans)

4.  Management Science (statistics, optimization, operations research, statistical decision theory, game theory, simulation and modeling, systems engineering, demography, economics, population science, demography, strategic planning, military science, organizational development and management)

5.  Social Science (ethics, religion, spiritual science, metaphysics, psychology, sociology, history, culture)

The preceding list provides a general idea of what I have in mind.  If you have observations, comments, or requests for additional information, please send me an e-mail at jcaldwell9@yahoo.com .

So far as I know, only two web sites focus on the relationship of human population to energy – my web site and Jay Hanson’s “Die-off” web site.  I got an e-mail from Hanson today (16 January 2003) informing me that he is terminating his leadership of the Die-off site, hoping that someone else will continue to operate it.  The Earth’s biosphere is dying and mankind will be extinct within this century if substantial change does not occur, yet no one seems to care.  There is a pressing need for immediate and effective action in this area.  An immediate need is for a planetary management curriculum development center, to provide detailed course outlines and instructional materials.  Please help!  Please send this message to a friend!

FndID(36)

FndTitle(Call for Action: Proposal to Establish a Planetary Science / Planetary Management Department at Major Universities)

FndDescription(A proposal for the establishment of departments of planetary management at major universities.)

FndKeywords(planetary management; education)