We live in the Biosphere, the only known place in the universe that sustains life. Yet, human activity has profoundly altered this fragile system, ushering in what scientists call the Anthropocene, an era where we have become the dominant force shaping the planet. This era is marked by accelerating crises, a web of interconnected challenges, or polycrisis, that threatens our very existence.
But here’s the paradox: while humans have created these crises, we also possess extraordinary abilities to learn, innovate, and adapt. The key question is: How can we harness human agency and global networks to drive cooperation for a thriving Biosphere?
This is where the Anthropocene Laboratory comes in. Recently founded at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, this initiative brings together leading thinkers, innovators, and changemakers from across disciplines, regions, and sectors. Together, we are working to transform knowledge into action, bridging science, policy, and practice to create solutions that matter.
Join us in this conversation. The future of the Biosphere and humanity depends on how we act today.
This public lecture is organized in collaboration with the study programme Certificate in Sustainability and Social Innovation that equips change agents to address sustainability challenges and the Cell for Cultural Affairs of the University of Luxembourg.
Organiser: Prof. Ariane König
Speaker: Henrik Österblom, Director of the Anthropocene Laboratory, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Prof. Henrik Österblom has an adjunct professorship at the University of Tasmania and has been visiting professor to Tokyo University. Henrik have worked as policy advisor to the Swedish government and several heads of state, and his research engages in spaces between science-policy, science-corporations or science-art. His background is from field ecology, with a master’s degree in behavioral ecology from Uppsala University (1998) and a PhD in marine ecology, Stockholm University (2006).
Registration is open until 16 March.