Bringing ecologists and economists together : the Askö Meetings and papers

The Asko meetings are an annual forum where leading economists and ecologists come together to discuss the myriad issues and challenges surrounding sustainable development. Organized by the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics and held on the Island of Asko in the Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden, the meetings facilitate a dialogue in which various players with differing perspectives can arrive at common conclusions and solutions that benefit us all. Bringing Ecologists and Economists Together showcases ten papers chosen from Asko meetings held from 1993 to 2002. Most of them were written for a wide audience and published in well-renowned journals, and each one is introduced by an ecologist and an economist who place the papers in a contemporary context. Lucid and accessible, these papers are important reading for students and researchers in ecology, economics and environmental sciences as well as anyone else interested in how ecologists and economists can agree upon crucial sustainability issues. "Meeting the sustainability challenge on our human-dominated planet requires creative, interdisciplinary collaborations like those that take place at the Asko meetings. The results of such collaborations, like this collection of Asko-essays and commentaries, represent a significant contribution to our future." Jane Lubchenco, Professor of Marine Biology and Oregon State University Distinguished Professor of Zoology and the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “The Asko meetings were extraordinary and full of impassioned debate. The bridges we did find in rare moments were formed between scholars who recognized the need for a minimum level of complexity, enjoying exploring the full range of non-linear behavior, with unexpected flips and unknowns, where transformations are possible, where novelty dominates. Such periods are often viewed as a curse, not as an opportunity, but these wonderful, flexible meetings opened some of our eyes.” Buzz Holling, Professor in Ecological Sciences at the University of Florida “The bright minds that the Asko meetings bring together have shaped an essential cross-border research agenda and societal discussion. It is wonderful to read this overview and realize how relevant these ideas still are.” Aart de Zeeuw, Professor in Environmental Economics at Tilburg University and Director, Tilburg Sustainability Institute