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DSCI 493/593 Sustainable Business Operations Spring, 2012 Prof. Mark E. Ferris Topics • Guest Speaker Dr. Ben de Foy – Cambridge University – Dept. Earth and Atmospheric Science SLU • • • • • Evidence for Climate Change The “Controversy” Discussion of “What is Sustainability?” How do we know what we know? Science: Theory and Empiricism Goals • Students should be able to develop writing skills that are essential to critical thinking. • Students should be able to interpret theoretical texts and be able to communicate their developing ideas to their peers. • Students should be able to construct a coherent argument and support it with evidence which will allow them to participate in class discussions and debates. • Students should be able to understand, appreciate and constructively criticize multiple perspectives, including their own. What is Sustainability? • • • • Discuss your definitions of sustainability Report out similarities Report out differences Ray Anderson TED talk – Business Logic of Sustainability • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9QF_l BOyA What is the Business Motivation for Sustainability? • • • • • • • Efficiency and reduce costs (WalMart) Sell “Green Products” (GE) Get the Sustainability “Glow” (WalMart) Regulations (Pollution Laws) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Ethics Others? How do we know what we know? • • • • • Personal Experience Expert Opinion News Media Science Other? Big Science • What is the question? – Observation – Collecting clues by gathering evidence – Investigating relationships – Finding patterns – Considering possibilities – models and theories – Drawing conclusions or inferences Cause and Effect • • • • • Cause and effect is tricky It’s a matter of evidence How much is enough? The case of “Smoking and Lung Cancer” Why Evolution is True, Jerry Coyne, University of Chicago. Why Evolution is True Jerry Coyne • • • • Evolution is only a theory – Pres. Reagan Is there something wrong with a theory? In everyday parlance it means a “guess” In science it means something very different • “It is a statement of what are held to be the general laws, principles, or causes of something known or observed” e.g “theory of gravity” or “theory of relativity” • A theory is much more than speculation; it’s a well thought out set of propositions that explains facts about the real world Why Evolution is True (cont.) • The theory of evolution is much more than saying that “evolution happened,” rather it is an extensively documented set of principles that explains how and why evolution happened. • For a theory to be considered scientific it must be testable and make verifiable predictions. • We must be able to make observations about the real world that either support it or disprove it. • A theory is only considered “true” after its assertions and predictions are tested over and over again, and confirmed repeatedly • A theory only become “true” when the evidence in its favor becomes overwhelming and all “reasonable” people accept it. • This does not mean that a “true” theory will be never be falsified • All scientific “truth” is subject to change in light of new compelling evidence. The Public’s View • What is American’s view of the environment movement? http://www.gallup.com/poll/127487/EnvironmentalMovement-Endures-Less-Consensus.aspx • Different Countries have differing views on Climate Change. http://www.gallup.com/poll/117772/AwarenessOpinions-Global-Warming-Vary-Worldwide.aspx Homework • Read through Gilbert Metcalf’s “Market Based Policy Options to Control US GHG” • Write a 2 page paper summarizing the case for climate change and the key aspects of the “controversy.” • Write a 1 page speaker review paper. • Begin developing your strategy for creating the “The Business Case for Sustainability” video. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMkPCL59hN M