Understanding the state of our planet and the role each of us plays matters. Because humans have become the most influential species on the planet, it has increasingly being suggested that our current epoch, the Holocene, be replaced by the Anthropocene, a new geological time period that defines our current impacts.

First suggested back in 2000 by the Dutch chemist Paul J Crutzen, while examining this time in Earth’s history – the idea is currently being heavily debated amongst the scientific community. Contributing factors such as climate change, pollution levels, and loss of biodiversity are often examined, but they do not occur in isolation. We must also embrace political and economic paradigms, education systems and population levels amongst many others that have consequences for our societies.

Either way, evidence from around the world is overwhelming: almost all of Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems are being altered by humans.

Join Ian Michler and Dex Kotze in conversation for an insightful session discussing the challenges we face as well as the reasons why individuals and societies seem reluctant to change, followed by possible outcomes as we head into the next 50 years and beyond.