As communities across the globe contend with numerous environmental and social challenges simultaneously, many of us from across academia, public policy, and civil society want to better understand the complex dynamics of the “polycrisis” and put that understanding into practice.
Please join researchers Michael Lawrence and Megan Shipman from the Cascade Institute and Michael Albert from University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science to explore some of the key research areas in the emerging field of polycrisis studies, including the causal mechanisms of crisis interactions and the political struggles that will steer different world futures through the polycrisis. The speakers will provide tools to help communities to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to converging crises.
In addition to sharing some cutting-edge research in the polycrisis, organizers want to hear from you: In which directions should polycrisis research go? What are some of your most pressing research questions? What information or analysis would be most helpful for you as a practitioner, policymaker, educator, or researcher? How can we collectively bridge research and practice?
This discussion will be recorded for those who can’t participate in the live event.
Live Event & Recordings
The live event will take place between 16:00-17:30 UTC on October 24, 2023. (Find out what time this is for you.) Sample times:
- 9:00 am San Francisco, United States
- 10:00 am San Jose, Costa Rica
- 11:00 am Bogota, Colombia
- Noon New York City, United States
- 6:00 pm Brussels, Belgium
- 7:00 pm Nairobi, Kenya
- 9:30 pm New Delhi, India
- 3 am (October 25) Sydney, Australia
If you are unable to attend the live event, we encourage you to sign up anyway as a link to the recording will be sent to anyone who registers below.
Register for the Event
What Would You Like to Know?
Please share any questions you have in advance so that the organizers and panelists have the opportunity to address them.
About the Panelists
Dr. Michael Lawrence is Fellow on the Polycrisis Project at the Cascade Institute. He uses complexity science to understand the coevolution of conflict, violence, and social structure, and through this work he has developed expertise on global governance, societal collapse, the psychology of dehumanization, transnational organized crime, and peacebuilding. Mike holds a PhD in Global Governance from the University of Waterloo.
Dr. Megan Shipman is a Fellow on the Polycrisis Team at Cascade Institute. Her expertise in neural circuitry, complex behaviour, and biomedical science informs her current research on global health systems and their interactions with global crises. Megan holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Vermont.
Dr. Michael Albert is Lecturer in Global Environmental Politics at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science. His forthcoming book (in April 2024), Navigating the Polycrisis: Mapping the Futures of Capitalism and the Earth, brings complexity theory and world-systems theory together with insights from the earth system sciences, ecological economics, energy studies, and critical security studies to investigate the possible futures of the world-system.