Absolutely, Christy. I also want to apologize for not emphasizing my support for the initiative as strongly as my concern regarding Rupert Sheldrake's ideas. Encouraging students to think about the big picture, regardless of whether it's politics, science or arts, is important and this is a great chance to accomplish that. I think your placement of Sheldrake as a speaker in chapel is appropriate, given the subject matter, and it sounds like the rest of the program is diverse. Thanks for listening to our concerns in such an open way.CGH wrote: ↑Sat Mar 09, 2019 9:51 am Reading between the lines I do sense some support for Gaia Week, so thanks to you all. I really value the contribution of Old Blues and your concern that current students get the opportunities they deserve.
I do plan to reach out to the folk at Knepp Estate to see what we can learn from them.
I hear your concerns about Rupert Sheldrake, however having booked him as a speaker in senior chapel and not a lecturer in science I don't feel the need to defend the decision further.
Having heard your concerns I have decided he will not be advertised in the programme as a keynote speaker, just one of many from a range of disciplines and ideologies.
I hope this allays any fears or sadness you may be feeling and reassures you of my best intentions in organising this week for our students.
With all best wishes
Christy
If you do manage to get someone from Knepp to come along, please let us (or at least me) know. I have never visited but have read a lot about it and hope to check in out on one of my visits back to the UK in the near future. Its a fascinating project. A couple of friends of mine are staff scientists at Yellowstone National park and have been closely involved with monitoring ecosystem level responses to the reintroduction of gray wolves 25 years ago. Though smaller scale, the Knepp project seems to be yielding similar results, albeit due to the (re)introduction of herbivores rather than predators.