The Adaptability Project

"The future in the modern imagination has always stretched out ahead like a broad highway drawing us onward with the promise of tomorrow. Now rather suddenly, as it becomes impossible to ignore dramatic changes taking place across the Earth, the future looms like an urgent question. Whatever the coming century brings, it will not unfold smoothy as some improved but largely familiar version of life as we know it. This is the only thing that seems certain."

So begins Diane Dumanoski's powerful new book, The End of the Long Summer.

The Adaptability Project (TAP) is inspired and informed by that book. This multi-faceted project transcends our past program structure, because in this project we are not only attempting to understand the problems - those "dramatic changes" of which Dumanoski speaks - but also actively seeking optimal approaches to living in our radically changing world. The project is designed to encourage new thinking as we take an unflinching look at our uncertain future, to understand it from the perspective of systems sciences, especially Gaia theory, and - importantly - actively plan how to meet the challenges ahead to insure survival of our species via adaptability.

An introduction

Starting in January, 2010, the project will branch into several tracks. The first will be a 4-week introductory overview of Dumanoski's book, repeated bi-monthly, which outlines the author's main points that motivate and inform the project. This starting point is necessary so that all participants in the project have a common understanding of the problem - necessary in order to address it effectively - and the foundational ideas underpinning the project. Dumanoski's book provides a brilliant overview and broad-ranging assessment that we find to be an extremely useful reference point. That 4-week introductory seminar will be immediately followed by an optional 3-week, in-depth discussion series on that very rich book for those who wish to pursue it with us. This pattern - 4-week condensed overview of the book followed by a 3-week in-depth discussion - will be repeated bimonthly throughout the year.

Formats, venues, media

Other tracks of the project include an ongoing stream of seminars, workshops, films, guest speakers, related classes and events relevant to survivability and adaptability in the 21st century.

The first will be a free showing of the film Baraka on the big screen, along with a discussion of the film, on Friday, January 22, beginning at 7 pm. Baraka is a powerful 90-minute masterpiece, a sweeping visual chronicle of our beautiful living planet and - unfortunately - the destructive forces at work that are leading to the instability of the global metabolism. Doors will open at 6:30; come early for good seating! Sorry, no entry after 7:30 pm to avoid disruptions to the film. (Donations accepted.) Check here regularly for updates about other upcoming events.

Into the commmunity, and the world at large

This project will be ongoing during 2010, and beyond, and is designed with modularity in mind, so you can participate in any and all the directions you are interested in. Please join us at any time. There will be many discussions, much experimentation, research, and sharing of the successes and lessons learned with our community.

Read more about the purpose of this project, or if you're ready to dive in, check out the Introductory class.