Weslynne Ashton, assistant professor of environmental management and sustainability at IIT Stuart School of Business, will present “The Ecology of Industry” at a Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) Speakeasy event, held Tuesday, August 4 at 7 p.m. at Geek Bar Chicago (1941 W. North Ave.). The event is free and open to the public, and registration is encouraged. Register online here.

Ashton’s talk will address the following topics:

• Is it possible for our industrial activities to ever exist in harmony with nature?
• What can nature teach us about how to sustain our economies?

Industrial ecology has been proposed as the “science of sustainability.” Its theories and tools are focused on examining how humans utilize materials and energy in societies, and the environmental impacts associated with the use of those resources. It presents a vision for industry organized like a natural ecosystem, where there is no waste, and where energy and materials are continuously cycled in the system. In this talk, Ashton will explore how industrial ecology is informing industry and society more broadly about how to understand our impacts on the environment and transition towards sustainability.