"Full Earth Economy" or "saturated earth"

Full Earth

One topic that I think would be interesting to discuss across disciplines is the condition (present and future) that many are referring to as our "Full Earth Economy" or "saturated earth". The former term was coined by Herman Daly in mid-last-decade, but the concept has been concerning folks who look at these kinds of things for the past 50 years or so. Basically, it is the concern that growing global populations, using more of the earth's resources, will eventually confront physical (earthly) limits; if we ignore the signs too long, and then let those limits determine allocation, the implications are worrying to say the least.

We could prime the discussion with a quick assessment of where we stand and what many of the tension points are, then it would be interesting for faculty to share how this reality informs their teaching in their respective disciplines...and I would argue this impacts every one, and every discipline.

Another discussion point might be the various responses we see in society to this phenomenon, like head in the sand, acknowledgement and worry, panic but powerless, and call to action...just to name a few.

If you're looking for an article to prepare attendees, the following 2005 Herman Daly piece does a nice job of presenting the problem, albeit from an economics perspective.

http://sef.umd.edu/files/ScientificAmerican_Daly_05.pdf

If your committee wants to pursue this topic, I could try to find an article that is less discipline-specific, more general, as well as more recent.