Robert Gilman, Ph.D.
Speaker, Author, Editor, Sustainability Visionary, Consultant & Facilitator

Robert's first career, as an astrophysicist, began with a degree in astronomy from the University of California at Berkeley, 1967, and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Princeton University, 1969. He taught and did research at the University of Minnesota, the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and served as a Research Associate at NASA's Institute for Space Studies.

In the mid 1970s when he decided that "the stars could wait, but the planet couldn't." He turned his attention to the study of global sustainability, futures research, and strategies for positive cultural change. With his late wife Diane, he designed and hand-built their own solar home in 1975; in 1979 they founded the Context Institute, one of the earliest NGOs to focus directly on sustainability.

In 1983 Context Institute began publishing IN CONTEXT, A Quarterly of Humane Sustainable Culture, with Robert as editor. IN CONTEXT became internationally acclaimed and in 1991 and 1994 won the Utne Reader's Alternative Press Award for "Best Coverage of Emerging Issues." During this phase Robert developed a wide background in all aspects of sustainable development including cultural history, innovation theory, sustainable economics, and greening of the built environment.

He and his family were also actively involved in Citizen Diplomacy with the former USSR. They were instrumental in the founding of the Global Eco-village Network, and lived for three years in Winslow CoHousing, one of the first cohousing projects in the US based on this Danish model for community living.

In addition to his on-going direction of Context Institute, Robert recently served as faculty in Antioch University's "Environment and Community" Master's program, and helped the Findhorn Community in Scotland develop a community constitution and establish its own self-governance.

His present work draws on all three phases of his life as he helps groups and individuals transform their own lives while they help move the planet toward a humane and sustainable future. His most recent speaking tour of New Zealand was in 1999.

See: www.context.org