In the 1960s, the name environmentalism emerged as an umbrella for national issues involving pollution, endangered species, and wilderness. In the 2020s, the name Anthropocene is emerging as a big tent for the planet-scale issues of climate change, ecosystem collapse, and oceanic troubles. The name comes from the Anthropocene Epoch, the last chapter of Earth history, defined by the human makeover of the planetary surface relative to the previous 4.6 billion years. Let the Anthropocene be a cultural meme potent enough to keep the planet sustainable.

Thorson pioneered the University of Connecticut's first courses on Global Climate Change, Earth System Science, and The Human Epoch. His interest in the Anthropocene emerged from his scientific research on New England's fieldstone walls and wetland stratigraphy, his scholarship of Henry D. Thoreau, and his desire to help students learn how the earth works so they can become more effective, less anxious, planetary citizens.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx