Because the Brain Does Not Change, Technology Must Author: Jesse H. Ausubel Summary: Chase Mahoney Critique: Tim Jackson

Sections Triune Brain (3 brains in one) Triune Brain (3 brains in one) Decarbonization Decarbonization Landless Agriculture Landless Agriculture Conclusions Conclusions

The Triune Brain The human brain is made of three brains in one The human brain is made of three brains in one –Reptilian (Snake) Brain courtship, territory, displays of dominance, etc. courtship, territory, displays of dominance, etc. –Paleomammalian care of young and mutual grooming care of young and mutual grooming –Neomammalian language, visualization, and symbolic skills language, visualization, and symbolic skills Each were results of significant advances in evolution Each were results of significant advances in evolution

The Triune Brain “Our brains and thus our basic instincts and behaviors have remained unchanged for a million years or more. They will not change on time scales considered for ‘sustainable development’.” “Our brains and thus our basic instincts and behaviors have remained unchanged for a million years or more. They will not change on time scales considered for ‘sustainable development’.” Waiting for our brains and social structure to change will take too long Waiting for our brains and social structure to change will take too long Social control is unreliable Social control is unreliable

The Triune Brain We should focus on improving our techniques We should focus on improving our techniques Improving the environment is the responsibility of engineers because of their “social context” and “technical vision” Improving the environment is the responsibility of engineers because of their “social context” and “technical vision” Technical improvement is specifically needed in energy and agriculture Technical improvement is specifically needed in energy and agriculture

The Triune Brain (Critique) Two main reasons for bettering technique Two main reasons for bettering technique –To save the environment from pollution –Accommodate our growing population People’s lifestyles won’t change so technology must People’s lifestyles won’t change so technology must –Product engineering Recyclability Recyclability Resource management Resource management

Decarbonization Carbon exists in our sources of energy Carbon exists in our sources of energy –Hydrocarbon fuels –Coal –Oil –Gas –Wood In large amounts burnt carbon causes smog and can change the global climate In large amounts burnt carbon causes smog and can change the global climate

Decarbonization Hydrogen is the truly useful element in these fuels Hydrogen is the truly useful element in these fuels Over the past 200 years the world has moved to more hydrogen rich fuels Over the past 200 years the world has moved to more hydrogen rich fuels Engineers must continue to strive for a hydrogen economy based on H 2 Engineers must continue to strive for a hydrogen economy based on H 2 H 2 can be made from water and combusts to water resulting in no pollution H 2 can be made from water and combusts to water resulting in no pollution

Decarbonization While striving for hydrogen rich fuels we must remember to design for efficiency While striving for hydrogen rich fuels we must remember to design for efficiency Producing efficient devices is easier than modifying behavior Producing efficient devices is easier than modifying behavior –Fuel efficient cars/car pooling

Increases in Efficiency Many advances have been made in motor and lighting efficiency Many advances have been made in motor and lighting efficiency Decarbonization

Decarbonization (Critique) Hydrogen must be extracted or produced, both of which require energy Hydrogen must be extracted or produced, both of which require energy − Energy from Nuclear Plant − Energy from fossil fuel Which is worse? Which is worse? Not burning carbon would reduce the pollution of our air and water sheds Not burning carbon would reduce the pollution of our air and water sheds We wouldn’t have to deal with oil slicks with a non-fossil fuel economy We wouldn’t have to deal with oil slicks with a non-fossil fuel economy

Landless Agriculture We must spare land for nature We must spare land for nature “Earth cannot sustain humans if it sustains humans alone.” “Earth cannot sustain humans if it sustains humans alone.” Therefore we must utilize field space more efficiently Therefore we must utilize field space more efficiently –Farming –Housing –Urban sprawl

Landless Agriculture Crop yields per hectare measure productivity and efficiency Crop yields per hectare measure productivity and efficiency Since 1960 crop-land ratios have risen 2% annually due to technical advances Since 1960 crop-land ratios have risen 2% annually due to technical advances –Tractors, seeds, irrigation, chemicals Thus billions more are fed without clearing new fields Thus billions more are fed without clearing new fields Average Annual Rise in Yield

Landless Agriculture “Precision Agriculture” allows high yield without harming the land “Precision Agriculture” allows high yield without harming the land –grid soil sampling –field mapping –variable rate application –yield monitoring—tied to global positioning systems Reduces waste, increases yield and prevents pollution Reduces waste, increases yield and prevents pollution –Fertilizers –Pesticides –Seeds –Water

Landless Agriculture For centuries cropland has expanded faster than population For centuries cropland has expanded faster than population Fifty years ago this reversed Fifty years ago this reversed If this trend continues over the next 70 years, the world’s population of 10 billion will need half of today’s cropland If this trend continues over the next 70 years, the world’s population of 10 billion will need half of today’s cropland

Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky The unused land will revert to nature or be designated for other uses… The unused land will revert to nature or be designated for other uses… Each of these steel cylinders holds 14 tons (13 metric tons) of depleted uranium

Vegetarian diets of 3000 Calories/day cut the land used in half Vegetarian diets of 3000 Calories/day cut the land used in half Diet is a very difficult thing to change. That’s why currently 80% of Americans are overweight. Diet is a very difficult thing to change. That’s why currently 80% of Americans are overweight. –71% in 1995 –64% in 1990 –58% in 1983 Landless Agriculture (Critique)

Therefore we must increase yield per hectare before human population and pollution overrun the world Therefore we must increase yield per hectare before human population and pollution overrun the world

Landless Agriculture By using H 2 produced by nuclear power plants, micro-organisms (hydrogenomonas) can make substances in our diet By using H 2 produced by nuclear power plants, micro-organisms (hydrogenomonas) can make substances in our diet People consume 100 Watts People consume 100 Watts Nuclear power plants produce ~2GW on 1000 hectares Nuclear power plants produce ~2GW on 1000 hectares

Landless Agriculture Therefore the nuclear power plant can feed 2000 people/hectare Therefore the nuclear power plant can feed 2000 people/hectare Iowa’s master corn growers feed 80 people/hectare Iowa’s master corn growers feed 80 people/hectare WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY we could do 25 times better WITH CURRENT TECHNOLOGY we could do 25 times better

Landless Agriculture (Critique) No one wants to eat micro-organisms that are scraped off the inside of a nuclear plant growth chamber No one wants to eat micro-organisms that are scraped off the inside of a nuclear plant growth chamber Our brains will definitely have to change for us to eat this hazelnut tasting organism Our brains will definitely have to change for us to eat this hazelnut tasting organism What about the storage space and possible pollution by nuclear waste? What about the storage space and possible pollution by nuclear waste?

Conclusions If neither technology or behavior change we will endanger our own survival If neither technology or behavior change we will endanger our own survival Behavior is difficult to change Behavior is difficult to change Technical progress is more reliable Technical progress is more reliable “Because the brain does not change, technology must.” “Because the brain does not change, technology must.”