How to Avoid a Climate Disaster


Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical—and accessible—plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe. Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal. He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions—suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise. As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.




Radical Solutions and Open Science


Book Description

This open access book presents how Open Science is a powerful tool to boost Higher Education. The book introduces the reader into Open Access, Open Technology, Open Data, Open Research results, Open Licensing, Open Accreditation, Open Certification, Open Policy and, of course, Open Educational Resources. It brings all these key topics from major players in the field; experts that present the current state of the art and the forthcoming steps towards a useful and effective implementation. This book presents radical, transgenic solutions for recurrent and long-standing problems in Higher Education. Every chapter presents a clear view and a related solution to make Higher Education progress and implement tools and strategies to improve the user’s performance and learning experience. This book is part of a trilogy with companion volumes on Radical Solutions & Learning Analytics and Radical Solutions & eLearning.




Selected Speeches of Dr. D. Swaminadhan


Book Description

The Selected Speeches of Dr.Swaminathan cover a wide range of disciplines ranging from sociocultural development to the tools of economic development like higher education, technical education, environment, science and engineering, and technology. the first part covers higher and technical education, value education, engineering and technology, environment, and science. the second part covers the disciplines of development studies, economy, finance, planning, rural development, urban development, tribal development, nongovernmental organisations, and general areas. Independent India wanted to build a modern, strong, dynamic, and self-reliant nation and embarked on the path of planned economic development. Growth, modernisation, self-reliance, and social justice are the basic objectives governing Indian planning. Dr. D. Swaminathan's lecturers presented a clear view about India's planning process. In the context of globalization, reforms in higher and technical education have been set in motion in India. the need for effective cooperation between universities, industries, RandD national laboratories, and the national scientific and engineering associations and bodies has been well recognised for bringing relevance in higher and technical education and for indigenous technology development and sharing of resources. In this context, "Swaminathan Model for University-Industry- National RandD Laboratories--Professional Bodies and Academies Interaction for Country's Economic Development" plays an important role.




Agricultural, Biosystems, and Biological Engineering Education


Book Description

Agricultural engineering, developed as an engineering discipline underpinned by physics, applies scientific principles, knowledge, and technological innovations in the agricultural and food industries. During the last century, there was exponential growth in engineering developments, which has improved human wellbeing and radically changed how humans interact with each other and our planet. Among these, “Agricultural Mechanization” is ranked among the top 10 in a list of 20 Top Engineering Achievements of the last century that have had the greatest impact on the quality of life. While many success stories abound, the problems of low appeal among students, identity crises, and limited job opportunities in many climes continue to trouble the discipline’s future in many parts of the world. Yet agriculture and agricultural engineering remain fundamental to assuring food and nutrition security for a growing global population. Agricultural, Biosystems, and Biological Engineering Education provides the first comprehensive global review and synthesis of different agricultural, biosystems, and biological engineering education approaches, including a detailed exposition of current practices from different regions. Key Features: Describes novel approaches to curriculum design and reform Outlines current and emerging epistemology and pedagogies in ABBE education Provides a framework to grow agricultural engineering in Africa and other developing regions Highlights the role of ABBE education in the context of the SDGs Presented in 3 parts and containing 42 chapters, this book covers the historical evolution of agricultural engineering education and discusses the emergence of biological and biosystems engineering education. It will appeal to engineers and other professionals, education planners and administrators, and policy makers in agriculture and other biological industries.




Re-cultivating Agricultural Science Or what I've Learned in 40 Years of Professional Life


Book Description

This book owes its origins to a collation of some of my publications for which a higher doctorate (Doctor of Agricultural Science) was awarded by the University of Melbourne in 2004. In that guise it was titled: Integrating Reductionist Research into International Agricultural Development: Re-conceiving Agricultural Research for Development; Technical Support for Development; Thai Agriculture; International Agriculture; Agricultural Education. It was thus an attempt to seek continuity across my research and development activities around various countries up until that time and to distill from it some conclusions that might inform future directions for international agricultural research and development. The citation from the higher doctorate read: ‘to John Lindsay Falvey who, from 30 years’ research combining technical, social, environmental, policy and historical research in the developing world, challenged the simple importing of agricultural technology. He demonstrated that indigenous knowledge and culture is critical to sustainability, food security and human development, thereby potentially benefitting millions of persons participating in international development projects.’ The citation is both an exaggeration and an understatement. It may or may not have assisted millions of persons – how can anyone know. But in another sense, the work revealed the lost element of wholeness that once characterized good science, good lives and wisdom. The information presented here is snippets from papers and books that strive to make that revelation explicit. Its partial prototype benefitted in presentation and explication from my colleagues who formed the panel for the higher doctorate deliberations, Professors David Chapman, Adrian Egan and Robert White.










Advanced Intelligent Systems for Sustainable Development (AI2SD’2019)


Book Description

This book contains the latest researches on advanced intelligent systems applied in the field of education presented during the second edition of the International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Systems for Sustainable Development (AI2SD’2019) held on July 08–11, 2019, in Marrakech, Morocco. The book proposes new approaches and innovative strategies for the manipulation of data and big data collected from the educational environment, exploiting the analysis tools, algorithms of artificial intelligence, and machine learning techniques, in order to extract results, which allow improving the performance and effectiveness of the education field, which is a strategic lever for sustainable development. The book deals with concepts, strategies, and approaches developed on various current axes of scientific research in the field of education, such as smart e-learning, smart education (smart classroom, smart assessment and smart teaching and learning technologies), massive open online courses (MOOC), courseware design, and development for smart learning, cloud learning, and mobile learning. The book is intended for all actors in the educational sector, namely students, professors, academic researchers, and stakeholders. It constitutes a large-scale forum for the exchange of ideas, approaches, and innovative techniques between these actors on the development and innovation of the field of education with the revolution 4.0. The authors of each chapter report the state of the art of the various topics addressed and present results of their own research, laboratory experiments, and successful applications. The purpose of this session is to share the idea of advanced intelligent systems with appropriate tools and techniques for modeling, management, and decision support in the field of education.