In a recent speech given at Lawrence University, Geology professor Marcia Bjornerud eloquently argues for a “deep respect” of “deep time”—the term Geologists use to refer to the Geologic past. Introducing the term “Geomimicry”, Bjornerud suggests that we look “to the Earth itself as our ‘mentor, model, and measure’ in building new, just, and sustainable institutions and infrastructures.”
I believe it is time that we heed the advice of Geologists like Bjornerud and consult the lessons written in the geologic record; our existence on Earth has been but a blink in geologic time, and it is foolish to think that we, as humans, are somehow separate from the interconnections which characterize our endlessly nuanced and finely tuned planet. “Even a quick read of the geologic record makes it clear that we really have only one choice…” Bjornerud says, “Earth will be the ultimate designer and arbiter of human destiny. So why don’t we decide, at last, to cooperate?”
She sums up five characteristic “design principles” of our planet—“strategies and architectures that seem to appear again and again in the workings of the solid Earth and biosphere.” In my mind, these principles can and should guide everything from everyday, seemingly mundane individual decisions to major policy decisions with global implications.
Stay tuned for a discussion of the individual design principles and share your thoughts!
To view the video of Bjornerud’s inspiring speech, go to: http://www.lawrence.edu/news/convos/09-10/bjornerud.shtml
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