322- Thomas Homer-Dixon on Commanding Hope and the Nature of Complexity

<p>Today, Tom is sitting down with Thomas Homer-Dixon, the author of the new book, <em>Commanding Hope: The Power We Have to Renew a World in Peril.</em> Thomas is also the author of the well-received book, <em>The Ingenuity Gap,</em> and, the Director of the Cascade Institute at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, Canada. Additionally, he also holds a University Research Chair in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo.</p> <p>In this conversation, Tom and Thomas discuss why and how the world is getting more complex, the role of complexity scientists, the focus of the Cascade Institute, the importance of young people developing a sense of agency, what schools can do to educate their students about climate change, and about his book, <em>Commanding Hope.</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p> <p>[:08] About today’s episode with Thomas Homer-Dixon.</p> <p>[:38] Tom welcomes Thomas to the podcast.</p> <p>[:55] What is a complexity scientist? And what do they do?</p> <p>[3:51] The observations and systems that led Thomas to spot the ingenuity gap that he wrote about 20 years ago in <em>The Ingenuity Gap.</em> And is it worse today than it was 20 years ago?</p> <p>[7:17] Observations from Getting Smart’s “20 Invention Opportunities in Learning & Development” report.</p> <p>[9:37] Tom highlights how, increasingly, innovation in the public space requires a combination of public, private, and philanthropic funding.</p> <p>[10:17] Thomas highlights an advantage we have today: our capacity to ramp up combinatorial innovation.</p> <p>[11:48] What the Cascade Institute is, what they do, and its mission.</p> <p>[15:00] Tom congratulates Thomas on his new book and reads the opening passage.</p> <p>[16:13] Who is Stephanie May and why was she an inspiration for Thomas’s new book, <em>Commanding Hope</em>?</p> <p>[21:28] How important is helping students develop a sense of agency and knowing that they can have an impact on the world? How do students achieve a sense of agency?</p> <p>[24:29