COME PESCI CHE MODELLANO L’ACQUA | Alessandro Corsini | TEDxSapienzaU

The Manifesto of Modernism

• The speaker, Alessandro Corsini, encountered a document titled "Manifesto of Modernism" in April 2015.
• This document, written by natural and social scientists, argued that "a plentiful access to modern energy is a prerequisite of human development for decoupling development from nature."

Decoupling Development from Nature

• The document emphasized the need to "decouple" development from the consumption of natural resources, suggesting that growth can occur without harming the environment.
• Corsini highlights the urgency of this issue, emphasizing the "countdown" we are facing due to climate change and the need to find solutions for future generations.

The Need for Compromise and Innovation

• The manifesto for modernism emphasizes the need for compromise.
• Corsini believes that the solution to the dilemma between development and nature lies in finding compromises, rather than seeking miraculous solutions that maintain the status quo.

Working with the Existing World

• We must work with the existing world, not seek a new one.
• Corsini rejects the idea of finding a new planet or a pristine environment to exploit. Instead, we must focus on working with the complex and challenging world we already inhabit.

The Importance of Renewable Energy

• Disconnecting development from nature requires renewable energy sources. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and water to decouple industrial and social development from the natural world.
• We need to understand that all renewable energy sources, except geothermal energy, depend on the sun.

The Role of Time in Sustainable Development

• The concept of time is essential for sustainable development. The speaker draws on classical Greek philosophy, specifically the concepts of Chronos (time as a linear progression) and Kairos (time as an opportune moment), to illustrate how understanding time is crucial for sustainable resource use.
• Following nature's rhythms is crucial for sustainable development. The speaker argues that to truly disconnect from nature, we must understand and follow its rhythms, cycles, and spaces. This requires being in harmony with nature.

The Need for Awareness

• The story of the two fish illustrates our lack of awareness. The speaker uses David Foster Wallace's story "This is Water" to illustrate how we often take the natural world for granted, like the young fish who doesn't understand what water is. This lack of awareness hinders our ability to address climate change and other environmental challenges.
• We are facing the challenge of ecological energy transition, and we need to understand the nature of the water we swim in and the solutions nature provides.

Nature as a Model and Mentor

• Nature is the measure and the boundary within which we must rediscover the concepts of limits and renewability.
• Nature serves as a model and mentor, suggesting that biological and technological hyperspecialization is ineffective.

The Importance of Diversification

• We can solve problems more effectively through diversification of capabilities, drawing inspiration from nature's interconnectedness.
• Our current energy system, based on fossil fuels, is a temporary phase. It is a civilization fueled by ancient solar radiation stored in fossil fuels.

The Transition to a New Energy Model

• We must transition to a new energy model that relies on collecting nearly instantaneous energy flows, like the sun's radiation.
• We need to adapt our energy metabolism, which includes our lives, production, and living spaces, to these constantly changing energy flows.

Finding Freedom Within Nature's Cycles

• We must find freedom within the cycles of nature and its boundaries.
• The author draws inspiration from his personal experience with open water swimming. He highlights the importance of rhythm, adaptation, and the connection between internal and external time.

General Purpose Technologies (GPTs)

• General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) are crucial for addressing the dilemma between development and nature's impact. These technologies represent a specific idea of progress, driven by tools capable of multiple purposes and shaping our strategies for future challenges.
• GPTs, like steam engines and computers, have inherent potential for future evolution. They possess two key qualities: generativity (being used for purposes beyond their initial design) and interoperability (allowing different systems to communicate and work together).

The Potential of the Ocean

• The author suggests that the solution to the development-nature dilemma lies in "saltwater," representing sweat, tears, and the sea. This is because the ocean holds vast untapped energy potential, exceeding the current global demand for electricity.
• The ocean's energy potential offers a sustainable solution for development while minimizing environmental impact.

The Mediterranean Sea as a Hub for Renewable Energy

• The Mediterranean Sea, along with the North Sea and the Black Sea, presents a significant opportunity for expanding renewable energy generation, particularly wind energy.
• The Mediterranean Sea acts as a natural network for connecting different regions of the world, promoting security and dialogue.

Italy's Role in Offshore Renewable Energy

• Italy, situated between northern and southern Europe, can serve as a bridge for transmitting excess wind energy from northern Europe to the Mediterranean basin, potentially reaching North Africa.
• The Italian offshore industry, with its experience in oil and gas, can leverage its expertise to develop a new sector focused on marine renewable energy.

The Importance of Academic Research

• Italian academic research, a leading force in Europe, plays a crucial role in developing offshore technologies.
• Offshore platforms can be designed as multipurpose structures, capable of harnessing various forms of renewable energy, converting it into electricity, and even producing desalinated water.

Addressing Interconnected Challenges

• Addressing the interconnected challenges of energy and water, alongside the energy-food nexus, will be a key focus in the future.
• The speaker discusses the potential of using fish as a source of energy, specifically by converting them into hydrogen, ammonia, or solar fuels.

Sustainable Shipping

• These technologies could be implemented on floating platforms along trade routes, making shipping more environmentally friendly.
• The speaker draws a parallel between the relationship between Captain Ahab and Moby Dick and humanity's relationship with nature.

The Importance of Informed Choices

• He emphasizes that optimism should not stem from ignorance or a belief in a miraculous technological solution, but rather from the collective ability of humans to make informed choices.
• The speaker concludes by highlighting the impact of individual actions on the environment, using the analogy of fish shaping the water.
• He emphasizes that every individual has the power to influence the environment, just as each fish creates waves and changes in the water.