The photo above shows fireflies (Pyractomena borealis) on the Iowa prairie. It was taken by Carl Kurtz, a Marshall County photographer and naturalist, who also raises seed for native prairie restoration. Originally sent to us by anthropologist Jon Andelson, a long-time friend and colleague at Grinnell College, the photo shows the hidden beauty of a small piece of restored habitat and speaks volumes about the rich life that exists on our planet.

We also like the metaphor of its myriad points of light: a sustainable future depends on many sparks of inspiration, innovation, and insight from people around the world, and documenting these efforts is an essential part of the Sustainability Project.

If you'd like to be added to Carl's weekly photo mailing (that's how we found this image), send an email to Carl Kurtz, cpkurtz@netins.net. We love it on our computer screens, too, and want to share it with you.

Firefly Background: 800x600 | 1024x768

To learn more about the Sustainability Project, contact the project coordinator, Abby Turner, at abby [at] berkshirepublishing [dot] com. And here's our postal address for any materials you think we should have as we shape this vital project:

Berkshire Publishing Group
314 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Telephone +1 413 528 0206

In an increasingly mobile and interconnected world, this international effort is vital because it allows scholars, students, and the myriad professionals in governments, charitable organizations, NGOs, and public and private sector agencies to find new ways of analyzing, evaluating, and acting to improve human well-being.

Please Note: This website is a work-in-progress; we will be continually adding information and improvements to this site.