The Times They Are a-Changin'

The African baobab is one of the world's most iconic trees. Learn how archaeology, drones, and computer mapping are reshaping what we thought we knew about African baobab trees and their importance within ancient and historical African societies, from Senegal to Zanzibar and beyond. What can lessons from the past tell us about conserving these trees for the future?

Problems like global poverty, fossil fuel dependence, and racial inequality can at times feel hopeless. Yet viewed on timescales of a decade or more, it becomes clear that social change is not only possible – it's pervasive. How does social change work? This talk will describe the essential role of institutions, which are the vast networks of social rules that coordinate everything from rocket launches to the temperature of your coffee. Want to change the world? Change the rules.