Can Earth's and Society's Systems Meet the Needs of 10 Billion People?

Can Earth's and Society's Systems Meet the Needs of 10 Billion People?

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2014-08-07

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13: 030930637X

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The Earth's population, currently 7.2 billion, is expected to rise at a rapid rate over the next 40 years. Current projections state that the Earth will need to support 9.6 billion people by the year 2050, a figure that climbs to nearly 11 billion by the year 2100. At the same time, most people envision a future Earth with a greater average standard of living than we currently have - and, as a result, greater consumption of our planetary resources. How do we prepare our planet for a future population of 10 billion? How can this population growth be achieved in a manner that is sustainable from an economic, social, and environmental perspective? Can Earth's and Society's Systems Meet the Needs of 10 Billion People? is the summary of a multi-disciplinary workshop convened by the National Academies in October 2013 to explore how to increase the world's population to 10 billion in a sustainable way while simultaneously increasing the well-being and standard of living for that population. This report examines key issues in the science of sustainability that are related to overall human population size, population growth, aging populations, migration toward cities, differential consumption, and land use change, by different subpopulations, as viewed through the lenses of both social and natural science.


Nature, Society, and Marginality

Nature, Society, and Marginality

Author: Pushkar K. Pradhan

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-01-01

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 3031213254

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This book focuses on the interrelations between nature and humans, in particular on those segments of societies that have been left behind (marginal groups). Nature is both the friend of humans and their adversary, depending on the way people treat and use it. Consequently, the book adopts a wide perspective of marginality: nature that has been marginalized by man (ecological marginality), but also social groups marginalized by politics, economic interests, and value judgements imbedded in culture. Many chapters deal specifically with issues in Nepal, but along with the other chapters with case studies from Southeast Asia and other regions, they demonstrate that the major man-nature problems are the same everywhere and can only be solved by constructive politics through clear regulations, convincing actions and general acceptance.


Systems Engineering for the Digital Age

Systems Engineering for the Digital Age

Author: Dinesh Verma

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2023-10-24

Total Pages: 901

ISBN-13: 1394203284

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Systems Engineering for the Digital Age Comprehensive resource presenting methods, processes, and tools relating to the digital and model-based transformation from both technical and management views Systems Engineering for the Digital Age: Practitioner Perspectives covers methods and tools that are made possible by the latest developments in computational modeling, descriptive modeling languages, semantic web technologies, and describes how they can be integrated into existing systems engineering practice, how best to manage their use, and how to help train and educate systems engineers of today and the future. This book explains how digital models can be leveraged for enhancing engineering trades, systems risk and maturity, and the design of safe, secure, and resilient systems, providing an update on the methods, processes, and tools to synthesize, analyze, and make decisions in management, mission engineering, and system of systems. Composed of nine chapters, the book covers digital and model-based methods, digital engineering, agile systems engineering, improving system risk, and more, representing the latest insights from research in topics related to systems engineering for complicated and complex systems and system-of-systems. Based on validated research conducted via the Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC), this book provides the reader a set of pragmatic concepts, methods, models, methodologies, and tools to aid the development of digital engineering capability within their organization. Systems Engineering for the Digital Age: Practitioner Perspectives includes information on: Fundamentals of digital engineering, graphical concept of operations, and mission and systems engineering methods Transforming systems engineering through integrating M&S and digital thread, and interactive model centric systems engineering The OODA loop of value creation, digital engineering measures, and model and data verification and validation Digital engineering testbed, transformation, and implications on decision making processes, and architecting tradespace analysis in a digital engineering environment Expedited systems engineering for rapid capability and learning, and agile systems engineering framework Based on results and insights from a research center and providing highly comprehensive coverage of the subject, Systems Engineering for the Digital Age: Practitioner Perspectives is written specifically for practicing engineers, program managers, and enterprise leadership, along with graduate students in related programs of study.


Global Change and Future Earth

Global Change and Future Earth

Author: Tom Beer

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-10-18

Total Pages: 447

ISBN-13: 1316772039

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Global Change and Future Earth is derived from the work of several programs of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG). It demonstrates how multi- and inter-disciplinary research outputs from the geoscience community can be applied to tackle the physical and societal impacts of climate change and contribute to the Future Earth programme of the International Council for Science. The volume brings together an international team of eminent researchers to provide authoritative reviews on the wide-ranging ramifications of climate change spanning eight key themes: planetary issues; geodetic issues; the Earth's fluid environment; regions of the Earth; urban environments; food security; and risk, safety and security; and climate change and global change. Covering the challenges faced by urban and rural areas, and in both developed and developing counties, this volume provides an important resource for a global audience of graduate students and researchers from a broad range of disciplines, as well as policy advisors and practitioners.


Ecological Challenges and Conservation Conundrums

Ecological Challenges and Conservation Conundrums

Author: John A. Wiens

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2016-02-22

Total Pages: 344

ISBN-13: 1118895096

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Short, compelling, but mostly thought-provoking essys that encompass many of the central issues shaping ecology and conservation in the changing world Collected essays from one of the best known ecologists and conservationists in the world Includes all issues at the cutting edge of the interface between ecology and conservation Attractive to a broad audience of ecologists, conservationists, natural resource managers, policy makers, and naturalists


Failure Management

Failure Management

Author: William B. Rouse

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2021-01-26

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 0192644343

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Failures are a common phenomena in civilization. Things fail and society responds, often very slowly, sometimes inappropriately. What kinds of things go wrong? Why do they go wrong? How do people and organizations react to failures, and what are the best ways to react? William B. Rouse takes an analytic approach to these questions and addresses eighteen well-known cases of high-consequence failures. He employs a multi-level framework to integrate findings across the case studies, and in turn uses these to outline a conceptual approach to integrated failure management. Though diverse in their causes and outcomes, his analysis shows that the conceptual design of an integrated approach to failure management can encompass each of the case studies, all of which would have benefitted from the same conceptual decision support architecture. This enables cross-cutting system design principles and practices, assuring that failure management in every new domain and context need not start with a blank slate.


Advances in Agronomy

Advances in Agronomy

Author:

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2016-01-28

Total Pages: 267

ISBN-13: 0128048344

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Advances in Agronomy continues to be recognized as a leading reference and a first-rate source for the latest research in agronomy. Each volume contains an eclectic group of reviews by leading scientists throughout the world. As always, the subjects covered are rich and varied and exemplary of the abundant subject matter addressed by this long-running serial. Includes numerous, timely, state-of-the-art reviews Features distinguished, well recognized authors from around the world Builds upon this venerable and iconic review series Covers the extensive variety and breadth of subject matter in crop and soil sciences


Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 1971-09

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13:

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The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.


Global Trends 2040

Global Trends 2040

Author: National Intelligence Council

Publisher: Cosimo Reports

Published: 2021-03

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13: 9781646794973

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"The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic marks the most significant, singular global disruption since World War II, with health, economic, political, and security implications that will ripple for years to come." -Global Trends 2040 (2021) Global Trends 2040-A More Contested World (2021), released by the US National Intelligence Council, is the latest report in its series of reports starting in 1997 about megatrends and the world's future. This report, strongly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, paints a bleak picture of the future and describes a contested, fragmented and turbulent world. It specifically discusses the four main trends that will shape tomorrow's world: - Demographics-by 2040, 1.4 billion people will be added mostly in Africa and South Asia. - Economics-increased government debt and concentrated economic power will escalate problems for the poor and middleclass. - Climate-a hotter world will increase water, food, and health insecurity. - Technology-the emergence of new technologies could both solve and cause problems for human life. Students of trends, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists and anyone eager for a glimpse into the next decades, will find this report, with colored graphs, essential reading.