The Balsillie School is pleased to host Gwynne Dyer, historian, journalist and author, for the fifth annual Balsillie Lecture as he discusses the topic of his latest book, Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World’s Climate Engineers.
Jim Lovelock, the founder of ‘Gaia’ (now called Earth System Science) predicted humanity would inherit the perpetual, thankless, possibly doomed job of ‘Planetary Maintenance Engineers’, if we so destabilise the planet’s natural cycles that we are compelled to intervene directly to keep them within the limits that would allow a human civilisation to survive. That was in 1979, and current indications are that Earth interventions will be necessary. This job is now called climate geoengineering.
Gwynne Dyer explores the technological possibilities and geopolitical risks associated with implementing interventions that may be necessary to keep the planet hospitable for humanity.
Gwynne Dyer has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for most of his adult life, but he was originally trained as an historian. He was born in Newfoundland and received degrees from Canadian, American and British universities, finishing with a Ph.D. in Military and Middle Eastern History from the University of London.
He served in three navies and held academic appointments at the Canadian Forces College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Oxford University before giving up the day jobs in favour of a twice-weekly column on international affairs that is published in more than 20 countries.
His first television series, the seven-part documentary ‘War’, was aired in 45 countries. One episode, ‘The Profession of Arms’, was nominated for an Academy Award. His more recent television works include the Gemini Award-winning series ‘The Human Race’. He has written eleven books (most of them Canadian best-sellers) on war, international politics and climate. The most recent ones are ‘The Shortest History of War’ (2022) and ‘Intervention Earth’ (March 2024).
Dr Dyer lives in London. In 2010 he was made an officer of the Order of Canada.
The Balsillie Lecture provides an annual platform to distinguished and leading international thinkers whose work has influenced, and continues to influence, contemporary ideas on international public policy and global governance.
A reception and book signing will follow the lecture.
This event is co-sponsored by the Environment and Resources Research Cluster.
