Ever since I was about 20 — that's over 40 years now — I've been concerned about the major challenges facing humanity and the Earth: hunger and poverty, environmental destruction and resource depletion, violence and war. As a faculty member of The University of Western Australia for 25 years, I sought answers in many disciplines. I didn't find any universal solutions, but I contributed to several fields, gradually formed an interdisciplinary overview, and began to call myself a generalist.

Some of the highlights of those years included research on water harvesting for agriculture, appropriate technology, environmental and social impact assessment of major development projects, environmental law, public participation processes, integrated management of land and water resources, sustainability, conflict over land and environmental resources, and futures studies. I helped to establish The Indian Ocean Centre for Peace Studies, organise three Conferences on Pathways to the Future, and establish the Australian Transpersonal Institute.

After many years, it began to dawn on me that the answers to humanity's problems are not to be found in any academic discipline, or combination of disciplines. We can't create a better future through science and technology, politics, economics, psychology, law, religion or any other activity or combination of activities, although all of them are important. Our only hope for enduring change lies in personal transformation leading to transformation of the collective. We urgently need a new worldview to replace outworn religions and the sterility of materialist science and culture. We urgently need a new set of beliefs about the nature of the cosmos and the meaning and purpose of life founded on a synthesis of modern science and spirituality. And so I began to write The Science of Oneness.

About 10 years ago, the direction of my personal and spiritual development diverged too strongly from the academic world, and I left the university. Following a study tour of ecovillages (on which I'll write later), my partner Christine and I moved from Western Australia to Findhorn. We've been here ever since. During my time here, apart from writing my book, The Science of Oneness, I've been involved in setting up a new community association (the Findhorn community's NFA), and establishing The Findhorn Foundation College which offers a study abroad program accredited by the University of Massachusetts. On the UK national scene, I was part of a group that set up the Forum for Spiritual Education.

As will become apparent, no doubt, I get a lot of my inspiration from nature. My main spiritual practice is spending time communing with the rocks and mountains, trees and mosses, fungi and myriad other beings. And I've become a photographer, focusing particularly on trees and the details of nature.

Once again, I invite you to join me in the adventure of exploring The Science of Oneness, and creating the future.

Malcolm Hollick
Findhorn
May 2007