Following the fascinating visits of Wynn Calder, Ann Cooper and Larry Black, CCS Forum 2015: Building the Desired City continues to open spaces for discussion about sustainability and its importance in shaping future generations.

Because we can all collaborate in building a better world and education is the key to achieving this, Cultura Chacao and Backroom Caracas, with support from the Office of Public Affairs of the Embassy of the United States of America, the Universidad Central de Venezuela and the IDEC (Institute for Experimental Development of Construction), invite you to participate in our upcoming meeting with Joseph Tainter.

Tainter is a prestigious professor and anthropologist whose line of research addresses the collapse of societies and the disappearance of great civilizations in history. His ideas raise such complex questions as: Can we collapse? Is our society vulnerable? Are we ready for radical changes? Do we understand technological advances? Do we understand that what makes us stronger can destroy us? Within this framework, he will offer the talk Energy and Catastrophe: How does the Roman Empire relate to the Gulf Oil Spill?

Likewise, Professor Tainter will be part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of IDEC, a Venezuelan institution dedicated to promoting technological development applied to construction under the principle of sustainability, and to generate knowledge, projects, and services that contribute to an improved quality of life.

This encounter will take place on October 19th at 11:00 AM in the Chacao Municipal Theater. Entry will be free and simultaneous translation will be available.

The next and final guest to CCS FORUM will be artist Nancy Nowacek.

Recording of Joseph Tainter’s presentation at CCS FORUM 2015: Energy and Catastrophe.