Abstract:
We need to introduce a new way of Discourse of difficult topics which are debated since many years in Science, Governments, Institutions and the Public without real progress made and consensus solutions still far away. This means that we have to follow innovative Discourse methods with respect to a diversity of knowledge, from Science to many other transdisciplinary fields of thinking. These discursive methods, coming from Churchman and Rittel, are not easy to apply and need much more work than just done in a happy weekend. The professional discursive work will take months and needs a careful planning of the zero-hypothesis about topics and participants. The debates must be free of ideological constraints and need to commit all participants to a fair amount of factual knowledge, well imbedded in to social sciences. Solutions need to include traditional, modern and organic farming as well.
Biography:
Professor. em. University of Bern Born:6 December 1940 in Bern, Thesis: vegetation and glacier history, summa cum laude in 1972 Bern University. Assisting to Swiss Atlas of Plant Distribution, first Swiss research department. lichenology (chemosystematics and bio-monitoring air pollution). Lectures in plant biodiversity and vegetation ecology, director of the Bern Botanic Garden 1996-2006 and Professor h.c. 2000. Sabbatical stays: Bergen, Norway, Duke University in North Carolina, University of the West Indies in Jamaica and Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Emeritus 2006, guest prof. Delft University of Technology, Sabanci University in Istanbul. Moderating ‘Berne Debates’, early blog on plant biotechnology, presently—ASK-FORCE at PRRI (Public Research and Regulation Initiative) at European Federation of Biotechnology at Black Sea Biotechnology Association, Numerous committees: Chair European expert committee on plant conservation, Council of Europe, founding member Planta Europa, Swiss Biosafety Committee Biodiversity Section of EFB. Several Swiss and European research projects on gene flow, plant conservation, lichen chemosystematics and monitoring air pollution. Publications on biogeography, vegetation history, vegetation ecology, plant systematics (monography on Bromus), gene flow of crops and their wild relatives and agricultural biodiversity. He also has a special interest in Pythagorean Harmonics science and holistic questions in evolution.
