6/18/24, 4:41 PM Section 1

Section 1

Video: A message from Jack Dangermond

Print

Time Caption

0:06 Hi, my name is Jack Dangermond,

0:07 and I want to welcome you to this MOOC.

0:09 It's an extraordinary activity that you're

0:13 going to go through over the next weeks.

0:15 It is the exploration of what's happening

0:19 at the planetary level with respect

0:21 to climate change and global warming.

0:23 You know, Esri was formed over 50

0:25 years ago, and the basic thought was that

0:28 geographic science and geography as

0:31 we know it and the geographic approach,

0:33 which is about bringing data together as

0:35 a foundation for better understanding,

0:37 could actually direct human activities

0:40 so that they were more sustainable

0:43 and more successful, more efficient.

0:46 In other words, we could conserve nature.

0:48 We could integrate nature into

0:50 the way that humans act and evolve.

0:53 Today, GIS is operational

0:56 in over 600,000 organizations.

0:58 And in that regard, it's actually changing

1:02 the way we actually live and the way

1:04 that we do our work.

1:06 And many of you are involved

https://www.esri.com/training/courses/645d6a07eb82fb767bb0c012-150631/Content/transcript5490351_1.html 1/3
6/18/24, 4:41 PM Section 1

1:07 exactly in that kind of endeavor.

1:10 Looking forward, how do we address

1:12 this huge, daunting question of managing

1:17 our climate in such a way that we

1:19 can create a more sustainable future?

1:22 Some people have said that geography

1:24 is the foundation for sustainability,

1:27 and I like that idea very much

1:28 because it starts with this

1:31 understanding of relationships,

1:33 being able to understand before we act.

1:36 And in this series of lectures

1:40 and courses, you're going to come

1:42 to realize that at a contextual level.

1:45 So I wish you all the best

1:47 in this study and this endeavor.

1:49 And also I would like to challenge you

1:51 because at this moment in our history

1:53 it's going to take all of us,

1:55 every piece of work that we are doing

1:58 to address this almost seemingly

2:00 overwhelming set of challenges.

2:03 But listen, I believe that we can turn

2:06 this around, and I can believe it by

2:08 the idea of watching people chip away

2:12 at aspects of the problems that

2:15 we're facing today and in

2:16 their small way make a difference.

2:18 And you particularly, in listening

2:21 to this, know exactly what I mean.

2:24 There's little things that we can do

https://www.esri.com/training/courses/645d6a07eb82fb767bb0c012-150631/Content/transcript5490351_1.html 2/3
6/18/24, 4:41 PM Section 1

2:25 in our organizations and also,

2:28 of course, in our personal lives.

2:29 So let me express my kind and deep regard

2:33 for you and the work that you're doing

2:35 and the motivations of

2:36 taking this very course.

2:38 Thank you.

https://www.esri.com/training/courses/645d6a07eb82fb767bb0c012-150631/Content/transcript5490351_1.html 3/3