Keynote IV Olof Gränström

A fact-based worldview for everyone

To cultivate a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development among future generations, it is imperative that we embrace a fact-based worldview. As Albert Einstein famously stated, 'If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself.' Sustainable development is a multifaceted concept, often challenging to grasp due to its inherent complexity and counterintuitive nature. Therefore, it is crucial to equip those who interact with our children with the necessary tools and knowledge grounded in factual information.

In my presentation, I will utilize accessible visualizations to showcase the evolution of our world over the past two centuries. These visuals will emphasize the remarkable progress humanity has made in terms of increased prosperity and extended lifespans, while also shedding light on the detrimental impact on our environment. Furthermore, the presentation will introduce practical tools and methods that can be easily adopted by individuals of all ages. For instance, by employing photographs as data points, we can offer everyone a glimpse into various income levels, revealing differences in daily life, such as food consumption, living conditions, and sanitation practices. This approach is crucial to foster a fact-based worldview, as our personal experiences alone cannot be relied upon. Data, however, must be presented in formats beyond mere numbers and graphs to effectively convey the underlying facts. While this poses a challenge, it is one that we must collectively overcome to ensure an informed understanding of sustainable development.

Olof Gränström

Olof Gränström:s expertise encompasses various domains as sustainable development, globalization, and fact-based decision-making. Olof Gränström has extensive experience working with the academic realm and several NGO:s, having served as a project manager for the esteemed Gapminder Foundation, which was founded by the renowned Hans Rosling. During his tenure, he delivered impactful lectures and conducted engaging workshops focusing on global macro trends and the concept of "factfulness". Extensive research has shown that our perceptions of the world often deviate from reality, leading us to make decisions based on preconceived notions and a lack of knowledge. Recently Olof was seen on the Swedish national TV channels TV4 and SVT.

Back to the conference programme