Joshua CASTLE

Education

Joshua Castle is currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Cybernetics, Australian National University, focused on “Steering humanity towards abundance in the age of AI”.

He completed an Honours Thesis in Marine and Antarctic Science at the University of Tasmania (2020–2021), where his interdisciplinary research examined the decommissioning of oil and gas infrastructure across legal, policy, risk, and biological dimensions. The thesis contributed to Australian government policy, was recognised as a UN Ocean Decade Action, and informed an XPRIZE-winning project.

Joshua also holds a Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Science (Governance) from the University of Tasmania (2017–2020), with studies spanning systems thinking, marine biology, international law, policy, and governance. During his studies, he undertook exchange programmes at the University of Basel and Uppsala University, and participated in international courses in Norway, Indonesia, and China.

Professional Appointments

Joshua has worked across research, advisory, and innovation roles spanning AI, sustainability, biodiversity, and systems design. Since 2023, he has advised organisations including Alma Blue, PocketSeed, Meeting Zen, and NEXVOX on areas such as innovation strategy, AI knowledge management, biodiversity investment, and product development.

He was also involved in the Blue Symbiosis/New Wave Biotech Collaboration (2023–2024), contributing to the development of a carbon removal project for XPRIZE. His work included research design, regenerative agriculture product development, international partnerships, capital raising, and patent development.

Research Areas

Joshua’s research focuses on governance, systems thinking, and the societal implications of emerging technologies, particularly in the context of AI and complex systems. His PhD research explores how societies can preserve human freedom, imagination, and adaptability in the age of exponential AI.

His broader research interests include political philosophy, cybernetics systems theory, environmental governance, ecological innovation, decision-making under uncertainty, regenerative agriculture, and climate change mitigation.

Joshua has also contributed to interdisciplinary research on biodiversity, environmental sensing systems, carbon removal, and governance of complex systems.

Other Information

Joshua Castle is an XPRIZE award-winning systems thinker. He has spoken at events including the Inside Network Super Fund Manager ESG Retreat and SXSW Sydney, and has conducted short courses for students at UTS and UTAS on ecological design principles, scaling, and innovation. In 2023, he was invited to deliver the Alumni Speech to graduating students of the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Tasmania. He was also recognised as the XPRIZE Student Carbon Removal Winner in 2021.