Circular Economies and Value Flows

After attending today's talk on circular economies, I realized that my perspective hasn't shifted much, likely because I’ve already spent time considering the problems of trying to implement circular solutions within a capitalist, growth-obsessed system. While the conversation reinforced the critical flaws of techno-optimistic approaches, it didn’t offer any new insights. Still, it’s a useful reminder to keep looking beyond conventional models, especially when thinking about sustainable design. Artisanship, with its emphasis on local production, resourcefulness, and minimal waste, remains a powerful example of a workable circular economy—one I will continue exploring in my own project. Ultimately, true transformation will require us to reconsider the whole framework, not just tweak the existing one. Until then, my thoughts from before the talk still stand

Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Economies

Coming into today's talk on social entrepreneurship, I had zero knowledge about these ideas. The session opened my eyes to how businesses can make money while helping society at the same time. I learned about exciting projects around the world where communities work together using open-source ideas to solve local problems. What struck me most was seeing how regular people can be both creators and users of these business models, not just customers. This new understanding has got me thinking about starting my own open-source project. The big lesson? Communities are the key to making businesses that work for everyone, not just for profit. It's amazing to see how working together can create businesses that make both money and positive change.

Ecological Interactions and the Economies of Nature