kaspar könig

A(rtspace)R(ondeel)M(aastricht) is honoured to invite you for 5 lectures about combating desertification with an independent designpanel at 20:00h on Saturday the 5th of september, and updates you about the Artspace at 19:00h that same day.

In 1969, for the first time a photograph of the Earth was published photographed by Apollo 8. This picture and the technological development in the 20th century changed public understanding of the Earth dramatically.

Scientific knowledge led to the theory that the various components of the Earth form a system, this led to the hypothesis that the entire biosphere is functioning as one organism.
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi arid and dry subhumid areas resulting from human activities and influenced by climatic variations. Current desertification is taking place much faster worldwide than historically. A major impact of desertification is biodiversity loss and loss of productive capacity. In Africa, if current trends of soil degradation continue, the continent might be able to feed just 25% of its population by 2025, according to UNU’s Ghana-based Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.

Lecture program: (lectures in English)

19:00
Kaspar König – update Artspace Rondeel Maastricht

20.00
Introduction: A short philosophical reflection by Alan Watts [20 min] Raymond Brouwers (A (rtspace) R (ondeel) M (aastricht) & ecologist Province Limburg)

20.30
Problem: Desertification and possible solutions Prem Bindraban (ISRIC – World Soil Information)

21:00
History: Climate variations and the influence on it of humans since 10,000 years
Eric Meijs (Physical Geographer Province Limburg)

21:30 pm
Projects: The method Paul Polak and information about the organization Raintrust [20 min] Dennis Luts (Raintrust)

22:00 pm
Electricity supply from the Sahara to Europe with an additional perspective of ‘greening’ of the desert. [20 min] Emil Möller (International Center for Integral Asessment & Sustainable Development / University of Maastricht)