Rare’s Post

Hard to imagine a better stage from which to share the first results from our new climate and sustainability research and innovation program. I enjoyed hosting this panel with our Harvard STAR Lab research partners, Professor Michael Hiscox and Dr. Nurit Nobel on the Aquarium Stage at the annual Momentum Conference to share our early progress with 300 business partners, community leaders and sustainability experts. Building on our long and proud partnership with the HSL focusing on financial decision making, we've recently welcomed a new exceptional research team and a number of leading local researchers to work with us and our business partners on this critical focus area. In addition to sharing early results, we spoke about the vision for the partnership, international case studies, importance of careful experimentation across contexts, AI applications and unique Australian opportunities. We spoke about the role of behavioural initiatives among other critical measures - quoting Richard Thaler - "We can’t solve climate change with nudging, but we can’t solve it without nudging" All credit for this work goes to our impressive business partners, behavioural practitioner (COE) experts and new research partners. Watch this space, lots more coming soon. Andreas Ludwig, PhD Ben Brazier Alex Matthews Daniel Campbell Madhurima Biswas Zoey Isherwood, PhD Myrna K. Robert Zeiden Saika Belal Aleksandra Conevska Ben Newell Adrian Camilleri Eunbin O Dr Michael BaumannAnna Vincent Stephan Gabadou Nathan Robertson-Ball Tim Burdon Meg Thomson Valentina Ciampi Catherine Nehring Nicole Wilder #CommBankMomentum #behaviouralscience #behavioralscience #nudge #sustainability #climateaction #commbanklife

As environmental social scientists, we are exploring the connections between human well-being and the environment: TRIGGER EU Project provides us with the research framework on climate change and health, on which we are working. However, as we learn more and more, we cannot escape from the impacts of climate change and environmental crises on our mental well-being, as researchers. How can we, sustainability researchers support ourselves, build our resources and develop our resilience when facing the "inevitable truth" and acquiring more and more knowledge about it? How can we foster hope as individuals and as organizations when dealing with these issues? In ESSRG, in our "Hope Lab" in the TRIGGER consortium, we are exploring our own perspectives on hope as an essential resource required for our mental well-being. We held our second HOPE workshop, where we reflected upon our own hope-concepts and cherished the diversity of perspectives in our group. We used art techniques (sounds, clay, drawings etc.) to articulate our own experiences regarding hope and being hopeful. Supporting environmental and sustainability researchers' mental well-being is a basic element of creative and fruitful research and needs increased attention in the challenging time of the Anthropocene. For more info about the Trigger Project go to https://lnkd.in/dzRRjnCC or ask Barbara Mihok the project leader.

Happy #WorldScienceDay! This year's theme, "Building Trust in Science," highlights the vital role of science in shaping our future through trust. From tackling global challenges to shaping societal views, trust in science powers evidence-based solutions, strengthens policy decisions, and drives social support, thus paving the way for more sustainable societies.

What is something you wish people knew In the realm of human interaction, there exists a deep-seated desire for mutual understanding and empathy. Yet, amidst this aspiration, lies a pervasive ignorance regarding the inner struggles and unspoken challenges faced by individuals on a daily basis. Countless voices yearn to be heard, their stories woven with threads of vulnerability and resilience. One such narrative resonates with the journey of a young artist who navigates the labyrinth of mental health issues. His brush strokes on the canvas of life reflect a poignant tale of perseverance against the shadows of depression and anxiety. Beyond the canvas, another voice emerges from the bustling streets of a metropolitan city. Here, a dedicated social worker tirelessly advocates for the rights of marginalized communities. Her unwavering commitment unveils a world often obscured by societal indifference. Through her efforts, she sheds light on the plight of the voiceless, amplifying their narratives to catalyze meaningful change. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of empathy and activism in shaping a more equitable society. In a quieter corner of the globe, a scientist unravels the mysteries of climate change, striving to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public perception. His research endeavours to dismantle misconceptions and inspire collective action towards environmental stewardship. His journey underscores the importance of scientific literacy and informed decision-making in safeguarding our planet for future generations. Each narrative intertwines with the fabric of human experience, urging us to embrace empathy, advocate for justice, and cultivate awareness in our pursuit of a more compassionate world. https://lnkd.in/dqgdF2Gq

Planet A’s Impact Report 2023 is live! Back in 2020, we started Planet A Ventures to support founders tackling the world’s largest environmental problems. Today, as we stand on the edge of a number of tipping points, we believe more strongly than ever that science-based investments are the only way to make sure we invest in the technologies that will move the needle. In time. In our report, we shed light on how we do just that, share an overview of the impact our portfolio has made so far and dive into new areas of opportunity we are excited by. Planet A's impact report includes: 🌎 An overview of the impact of our investments 🤑 Key challenges and opportunities that 2023 offered 🦾 How we use Scientific Impact Assessments to ensure we invest in solutions that truly move the needle 🌴 Our take on 3x key trends: Nature capital, hardware financing and SFDR regulation 👋 Deep dives into sectors behind some of our newest investments 🔗 Jump into the report here: https://lnkd.in/d53PeDTQ A special shout-out to our science team Lena Thiede, Benedikt Buchspies and Kritesh Shridhar for their excellent work bringing the report to life! And to Laura Alberty and Sarah Gill for making it ready to be shared!

What's in a name? Why Rho Impact? In data science, Rho refers to the strength, or connection, between two variables or data points. We're obsessed with 'connecting the dots' (and the data points) on the most complex challenges facing our clients, our environment, and society at large. And for Impact, we're relentless in the pursuit of empowering every organization, in every pocket of the globe, to make an impact. Beyond our services and software, we freely contribute in a number of ways to methodological development, thought leadership, and mentorship to strengthen the broader impact community. Here are a few examples of how we make that happen: When it comes to methodology, framework and standard development, our long-standing collaboration with Prime Coalition on the Carbon Reduction Assessment for New Enterprise (CRANE) Tool and Project FRAME, plus our work on CDP's Emerging Climate Technology Initiative, are how we advance the impact aspirations of the global investment community. When it comes to advancing best practices in specific industry verticals, our participation on the Green Building Initiative's ESG committee and New York State Bar Association's ESG committee is how we advance the impact aspirations of specific industries. When it comes to supporting trade groups and global coalitions in mobilizing collective action with their members, our support for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) and the United Nations' "Right Here Right Now" Global Climate Alliance on Human Rights is how we advance the impact aspirations of industry and cross-sector coalitions. And when it comes to leadership development, mentorship, and supporting the next generation of impact-led companies, we provide pro-bono advisory and mentorship to participants in Element 46 Tech Accelerator and WEVE Acceleration (formerly NUMA New York), and Columbia University's "Data Science in Industry" course. And we're just getting started. Rho Impact. You bring your WHY. We'll bring everything else. https://lnkd.in/e3fZe_AJ #impact #esg #methodologies #thoughtleadership #probono #esgsolutions #standards #esgreporting #climatetech #impactmeasurement #impactthatmatters #esgdata #carbonaccounting #esgdisclosure #sustainablebusiness #teamworkmakesthedreamwork

Advertisement, political propaganda, and echo chambers can all contribute to bias and the formation of strong beliefs. When it comes to advertising, the primary goal is to promote a product or service and persuade people to buy or support it, often by using persuasive techniques, such as emotional appeals or selective presentation of information, to shape public opinion in favour of their offerings. This can lead to biased perceptions and a skewed understanding of the product or its competitors. Political propaganda operates in a similar way but is focused on influencing public opinion regarding political ideologies, candidates, or parties. Propaganda can be used to manipulate people's beliefs and attitudes, often by appealing to their emotions, fears, or desires. It may involve spreading misinformation, distorting facts, or framing issues in a way that benefits a particular political agenda. This can create a polarized environment where individuals align themselves with a specific cause or opponent based on manipulated information. Echo chambers, both online and offline, where people are surrounded by like-minded individuals and exposed only to information and opinions that reinforce their existing beliefs. Social media platforms and personalized algorithms often contribute to the formation of echo chambers by showing users content that aligns with their preferences and filtering out opposing viewpoints. In such an environment, individuals may become further entrenched in their beliefs, as they are not exposed to diverse perspectives or critical analysis. While these phenomena can perpetuate biases and hinder open dialogue, they also serve certain purposes. The need for a cause and an opponent is a fundamental aspect of human psychology. People often seek a sense of purpose and belonging, and having a cause to support and an opponent to rally against can provide a sense of identity and unity. It can motivate individuals to take action and work towards a shared goal, whether it is social justice, environmental protection, or political change. Messages, whether they are conveyed through advertising, political propaganda, or echo chambers, can have both blessings and curses. On one hand, a powerful message can inspire, inform, and mobilize people, leading to positive change and progress. It can raise awareness about important issues and encourage individuals to question the status quo. But on the other hand, messages can be manipulative, divisive, and reinforce prejudices and stereotypes and create hostility, deepening societal divisions and hindering cooperation.

I have been waiting for this for over a year and am so excited that these amazing people will gather to talk about the urgent need to widen the lens of what it means to be human in a time when the familiar is no longer solid ground. I hope you can join us! As contributors, Thomas Hübl, PhD, Bayo Akomolafe, Francis Weller and Nora Bateson will speak about the core themes that are inter-woven throughout the book. Then James Vaccaro, Caroline Lucas and Deepa Mirchandani will help us to think about the ways in which these themes are relevant (or not!?) in the financial sector, in sustainability and in politics. And of course this is the first of hopefully many events that hopes to bridge the divides of the silos in which we move, work and live. Depth psychology, trauma-informed knowledge, decolonial thinking and living systems thinking are mostly kept seperate from economy, climate science and sustainable development. How do we weave things back together? A big thank you to the The Pocket Project for partnering up and providing a welcoming platform for this event and to Kosha Joubert for facilitating the event. For more information and sign-up, use this link: https://lnkd.in/eC5Gfx-X To get information about similar events, workshops and talks in the future, visit the website of the fledgling Centre for Climate Psychology and Change: https://lnkd.in/dbaEg5Eh And most importantly, how can you generate uncomfortable conversations across divides in the part of the culture where you have agency? What is not often talked about? And how can you loosen this rigid ground and nurture more diversity in the monocultures that we navigate?

Toxins This week in our Real Circularity Academy Alumni and within The Ecosystem Incubator - we discussed into toxins, how they may harm the body, our health and the health of the world.. and indeed start to enquire what may be the fullest solution. We are starting Circular Earth to work a research project in - to look in depth potentially over many years to showcase look in depth what can really do to create this new synergy. Join us in our Academy - and work on the answers - not just the problems. https://lnkd.in/debw9Dum

What is the value of impact? And what do we mean by value and impact? If we take a human-centred definition and approach, as we do at Walcott, impact is first and foremost a state of mind - a principle or standard of behaviour rather than a set of activities you do to fulfil the KPIs of a grant. Through this lens, impact should encourage you to think differently about your research, how you approach it, and in some cases, how you conduct it. And if you come at it from this perspective, there is a much richer depth to impact. In our latest blog, adapted from a recent talk at Durham University’s IAA Impact Celebration event, Saskia Walcott weighs the value of impact at individual, institutional, and societal levels and looks at some of the complexities and challenges inherent in the space. Read in full here: https://lnkd.in/ex3t44qA #ResearchImpact #ImpactMindset #Research #ResearchCulture