April 25, 2014
Nearly 800 participants from across the upper Midwest joined in a thought-provoking day of presentations and discussions at the eighth annual Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference April 22 in Madison, Wis.
The event, titled Earth: To Be Determined, explored ideas and issues related to the Anthropocene — the age of humans — a term many scientists are using to describe the profound impact people are having on the global environment by adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, converting land to human uses and consuming natural resources.
With appearances by British science fiction author China Miéville, leading ecologists Erle Ellis and Kevin Noone, Nelson Institute Director Paul Robbins, and a variety of other speakers and panelists, the conference addressed challenges and opportunities presented by rapid, large-scale changes in the global environment. This included implications for energy and climate, human health, natural resources, the economy, urban development, the demographics of the environmental movement and more.
The conference also featured a variety of exhibits and activities, including the Wisconsin Energy and Sustainability Challenge, student poster presentations, and the first annual Nelson Institute Alumni Awards.
Below, view a slide show of photos from the event. And browse our Storify story for a collection of comments and photos from attendees.
All slide show photos, unless otherwise noted, credit Jenny Peek.