Jerry Ek to Speak on Resilience Theory and the Mayan Civilization Feb.5 at Western
Western’s Jerry Ek will discuss the theory of adaptive change as part of Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 in Communications Facility 120.
The presentation is free and open to the public.
The theory of adaptive change (or resilience theory) holds great explanatory value for understanding change over time in complex societies, including sociopolitical collapse. In his talk titled “Resilience Theory and the Classic Maya Collapse,” Western lecturer Jerry Ekwill examine the mechanisms through which the socio-ecological systems of the Mayan Classic Period (AD 250-900) gradually lost resilience and eventually collapsed. Ultimately, Ek suggests that demographic, political, and economic changes that led to the decline of Classic Maya kingdoms were the result of transition between two different socio-ecological regimes: the low-density urban agrarian landscapes of the Classic Maya and a post-collapse ecological regime that was not capable of supporting large populations—a system that has persisted into modern times.
Jerry Ek is an environmental archaeologist with research interests in human-environmental dynamics, urbanism, and sociopolitical collapse in complex societies. An undergraduate alumnus of Western’s Department of Anthropology, Jerry completed a master's degree at University College London and is currently in the final phases of completing his doctorate in Mesoamerican archaeology at the State University of New York.
The presentation will include a question-and-answer period. Anyone interested in the topic is encouraged to attend and participate.
The Huxley College Speaker Series, sponsored by Western’s Huxley College of the Environment, is intended to bring together environmentally-minded members of the 草榴社区 and Bellingham communities. Speakers address topics of contemporary environmental concern in the region and the world.
草榴社区’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized leader in producing the next generation of environmental professionals and stewards. Huxley’s distinctive, interdisciplinary curriculum reflects a broad view of the physical, biological, social, and cultural world, and has earned international recognition for quality.
For more information, please contact 草榴社区’s Huxley College of the Environment at (360) 650-2554.