In 200 years of industrialisation we have killed almost a third of the planet. However, the biggest production system, that is, the nature has existed for billions of years in a steady state. The problem, Dr. Soni says is that we have been inventing irresponsibly, invasively and for the sake of inventing. The solution is to invent responsibly considering our planet. Dr. Vikram Soni is Professor and UGC Emeritus Fellow at the Centre for Theoretical Physics in New Delhi, India. Dr. Soni obtained a PhD from the University of California at Santa Barbara and is a theoretical physicist specializing in astrophysics. He is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo. In addition to physics, Dr. Soni is an environmental activist and, in 1995, established Natural Heritage, a leading Indian environmental NGO. Dr. Soni recently published his new book Naturally, Tread Softly on the Planet which describes human interventions in the matrix of life on earth. Vikram Soni has for many years been a leader in the fight against the destruction of the natural environment in his home country, India, and elsewhere throughout the planet.In his book: Naturally: Tread Softly on the Planet sets the direction by placing human interventions in the matrix of life on Earth. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Professor Vikram Soni amalgamates the idea of boundaries with bridges by speaking about the simple ways in conserving the environment. From performing a live experiment to speaking about the troubles he faced while trying to conserve the environment makes us ponder upon the wonders of the environment and its conservation. Vikram Soni is presently Emeritus Professor at Jamia Millia and JNU. He was born and grew up in Nainital. Starting his education at St Joseph's School, Professor Soni has studied, taught and done research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Sussex University, the University of Madras, the Institut de Recherche Fondamental at Saclay in Paris, amongst others. He has worked in High Energy Physics and Astrophysics. Alongside, seeing the tragic shrinking of India’s rich jungle wilderness, he has always worked quietly for conservation. In Physics, he has made seminal contributions in our understanding of phenomena ranging from topological structures in physics to the nucleon and neutron stars and from the matter-antimatter puzzle to evolutionary networks. Significantly, he has produced a body of work in Science in the Public Interest that deals with non invasive, ‘Preserve and Use’, solutions to contemporary problems, particularly the water problems. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

TALK - Architecture and Society Series | ‘Natural Cities’: Future Direction for Sustainable Living. Speaker: Vikram Soni, environmental activist and theoretical physicist. The speaker will illustrate the idea of the 'Natural City' with a design for the Amravati Natural City - the new capital of Andhra Pradesh – as the first self-sustaining city, which sets the future direction for urban living. Collab: Greha