Season: 4 Episode: 2

Food Ecosystems, Industrial Ecology & Interdisciplinary Knowledge

Guest: Dr. Weslynne Ashton



This episode dives into understanding how businesses and industries develop and die out in certain regions in a very evolutionary manner. Dr. Ashton talks with Arlene about what we can learn from these natural changes and how we can use the information to create more sustainable business structures. We also hear how Dr. Ashton’s career developed organically, both due to her interests and to simply going through the doors that opened along the way.

Dr. Weslynne Ashton is an Associate Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology with joint appointments at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design. She also holds a faculty affiliate (courtesy) appointment in the Armour College of Engineering, Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering.

Dr. Ashton is a sustainable systems scientist, whose research, teaching and practice are oriented around transitioning our socio-ecological systems towards sustainability and equity. She studies the adoption of socially and environmentally responsible strategies in business, and the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing social and environmental challenges. Her research is grounded in industrial ecology and the circular economy. Her current work focuses on increasing sustainability and equity in urban food systems, and developing regenerative economies in post-industrial regions, newly industrializing countries and small island states.

She was awarded a Jefferson Science Fellowship by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in 2018. She spent the 2018-2019 academic year as a science-policy advisor at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she worked with the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia on strategic planning, energy policy and energy efficiency programs in the Balkans and Ukraine.

We hope you enjoy the journey on today’s Pathway!

Show Notes:

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This episode of Pathways was produced by Arlene Hayes for Grenadian STEAM Inc.

Video editing by Kate Masaltseva of MindzEye Films.

Audio editing by Chemon Marryshow.

Episode artwork by Identity Designer, JustMo.

Your host is Arlene Hayes

Theme song produced by Andrew ‘Hitz’ Phillip


The thoughts and ideas expressed on this podcast episode are those of the host and her guest(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of, Grenadian STEAM or its members.

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