Ashton to Speak at Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) Event

Assistant Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability at IIT Stuart, will present 'The Ecology of Industry' at a Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) Speakeasy event, held Tuesday, August 4 at 7 pm at the welcoming Geek Bar Chicago (1941 W. North Ave.). The event is free and open to the public, and registration is encouraged. 

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, often referred to as the 'science of sustainability,' is a topic of utmost relevance in our current times. Its theories and tools are focused on examining how humans utilize materials and energy in societies, as well as the environmental impacts associated with the use of those resources. It presents a vision for an industry that is organized like a natural ecosystem, where there is no waste and energy and materials are continuously cycled in the system. In this talk, we 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.