James Lovelock concept of Gaia on Earth’s impact on health

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This is a paper that is focusing on the James Lovelock concept of Gaia on Earth’s impact on health. The paper also provides additional information to use in writing the assignment paper.

James Lovelock concept of Gaia on Earth’s impact on health

Question: In the context of the ‘Earth’s’ impact on health, many authors including James Lovelock have introduced the concept of “Gaia.” Gaia is the “living Earth” and many scientists and also others claim that Gaia “corrects” mistakes made by man or natural phenomena.

Write an essay on your interpretation of the Gaia world of self-correction as put forward by some scientists. Secondly, this can be an essay discussing Lovelock’s views, or other aspects of why life is resilient and adaptable on our planet. Nisbett’s chapter in the Treatise on Geochemistry which I adapted for the lectures on Biogeochemistry and the evolution of life, redox etc on Earth may be a typical source of inspiration. You could also look at different geological events around the world and how life adapts after major catastrophic situations.

Additionally, you have to think about time scales (not 10’s of years eg a human life span; but 10’s of thousands or millions of years). Secondly, how would you consider climate change or global warming in this context and how might Gaia adapt. However, remember the Earth has been naturally very rich in ‘green house gases’ in the past and been very warm and very cold at times. In any event, please try to put a “spin” (no pun  intended) to the essay based on health and the earth.
Guidelines
1. 7-10 pages
2. Double spaced lines (usually 200 to 250 words per page)
3. Possibility of having 1-2 diagrams
4. Due on October 8th , 2020

Possible References
James Lovelock – Gaia: A new look at life on earth
James Lovelock – Gaia, the practical science of planetary medicine
Camelford conference – Gaia, the thesis, the mechanisms and also the implications
Lovelock, J. The living Earth. Nature 426 (6968): 769-770, December 18, 2003.
Lovelock, J. A geophysiologist’s thoughts on the natural sulphur cycle. PHILOS T ROY SOC B
352 (1350): 143-147, February 28, 1997.
Treatise on Geochemistry (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/referenceworks/9780080437514)