Summary: During his 2nd Inaugural Address, President Barack Obama called for us to protect our "National Treasure" - stressing the importance of addressing critical environmental issues, including global warming. “The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks.” In a fascinating exploration of environmental issues - from Boston to Beijing and back - and of new views on our dynamic, global ecosystem, Julie Ann and her ConsciousSHIFT guest Dr. Daniel B. Botkin - nationally renowned ecologist and author of THE MOON IN THE NAUTILUS SHELL - shed light on our roles as conscious participants in this fragile system of which we are a powerful part. Dan shares his extensive research of American forests, waterways, and sustainable energy, and what needs to be done today to preserve our “national treasure.” Dan is best known for the development of the first successful computer simulation in ecology, a computer model of forest growth that has developed into a sub-discipline in this field, and has been a pioneer in the study of ecosystems and wilderness. He has been involved in research on global warming and its possible ecological and environmental effects since 1968. Dan has helped develop major national programs in ecology, including the National Science Foundation’s Long-term Ecological Research Program and NASA’s Mission to Earth. He is also the author of Powering the Future: A Scientist’s Guide to Energy Independence. .
