Person

Bruhn, Thomas

Research Group Lead

As the initiator and coordinator of AMA, I feel a deep commitment to the project‘s original intention and ambition. I care particularly about community building and see my conceptual work as a support for community empowerment. I love the diversity of perspectives that we aspire to integrate and the challenges that this aspiration means for my own development. I believe in the intrinsic goodness of all humans and tend to see the unity and connectedness behind apparent cultural or disciplinary differences.

My Background and Expertise:

  • PhD in Physics (self-assembly in nano-structures)
  • Facilitation & Moderation (Art of Hosting, Design Thinking…)
  • Complex systems dynamics (self-organization, emergence)
  • Transdisciplinarity & co-creation
  • Anthropocene, earth-system science
  • Climate change, geoengineering

My responsibilities:

  • Facilitating the team; creating structures, containers and visuals
  • Coordinating the website, database, and board of curators
  • Vision and strategy development
  • Holding space for the formation of trusting relationships & networks
  • Presenting AMA to the public
  • Administrative and strategic coordination within the IASS

Firstname:
Thomas
Lastname:
Bruhn
AMA Role:
Staff
Email:
Website:
Beginning:
2016/1/1
How I relate to sustainability:
During my physics studies I started writing fiction novels which triggered my interest in sustainable modes of living. At first I was mainly concerned about issues around global warming and social inequalities. More and more I felt that there were no classical "solutions" to these challenges but I saw them as emergent systemic manifestations of a deeper disharmony of human relationality in this world. Contributing to the healing of this disharmony is my main aspiration.
How I relate to inner transformation:
Early on I was influenced by reading Erich Fromms "The art of loving" and "To have or to be" and later by Frithjof Capras "The Tao of Physics". Originally coming from a Christian background I came in contact with Eastern philosophy and contemplative practice when I was still young which shaped my view on the world very much. My prefered contemplative practice is hiking/pilgrimage and compassion meditation.
What I can offer:
Connections to like-minded change agents; overview presentations about the topic of AMA; workshop facilitation
What I need:
Funding, particularly for further developing the online infrastructure;
â–¼Perspective > Academia > Natural Sciences â–¼Perspective > Civil Society > NGO â–¼Journey > Motivation â–¼Journey > Inspiration â–¼Inner Change > Practices > Co-creation â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > compassion â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > hope â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > humility â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > love â–¼Inner Change > Practices > meditation â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > mindfulness â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > patience â–¼Inner Change > Qualities & Virtues > reflexivity â–¼Inner Change > Discourses & Framings > Systems thinking â–¼Sustainability > Layer > Individual â–¼Sustainability > Layer > Socio-technical â–¼Sustainability > Objectives > Climate Action (SDG #13) â–¼Sustainability > Objectives > Partnerships for the Goals (SDG #17) â–¼Sustainability > Objectives > Quality Education (SDG #04)