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Lewis Gilbert Abstract

As our understanding of Earth's functioning deepens, interactions among physical and social systems gain more of our attention. In particular, we have reached a point where our knowledge of the system can affect the functioning of the system. This feedback results from the fact that decision-makers can use or fail to use current knowledge in their activities that are related to interactions between human societies and their environments.

Through establishment of two-way flows of information between knowledge producers and consumers and development of reflexive decision-making frameworks, Earth extension aims to advance our ability to understand interactions among Earth systems. Earth extension activities can be modeled on agricultural extension activities and can provide a vehicle for integration across a broad range of institutional knowledge production.