Abstracts submission for the first Biophilia Summit is open!
Living Future Europe is excited to announce the call for proposals for our 1st Biophilia Summit, taking place online, June 7, 2023.
The Biophilia Summit is a first of its kind cutting-edge one-day event gathering biophilic lovers from all over Europe and beyond, focused on bringing together the latest research, disciplines and best practices around biophilic topics in the fields of architecture, fashion, art, psychology, leadership and many others. Learning from key players and biophilic advocates the summit will create conversations and advance awareness and practice.
“Reconnecting with nature will save our society.” – The Biophilic Society
Are you an advocate for biophilia in architecture, design, art, biology, photography, psychology or any of the areas mentioned below?
Proposals are due Friday, March 31, 2023.
The Biophilia Summit
- When: 7th June 2023 [time zones will enable presentations from across Europe and the Americas]
- Where: online
- Target group: biophilic lovers, architects, designers, psychologists, educators, artists, researchers, consultants, manufacturers, policy makers.
- Registrations: opening on April 18th
- Language: English
- Organisation: The Biophilic Society [a Living Future Europe initiative]
- Further information: biophilicsociety@living-future.eu
Timeline
| February 20, 2023 | Call for speakers launch ✅ |
| March 31 (Friday) | Deadline for proposals – by 11:59 pm (CEST) ✅ |
| April 6-17 | Proposals in review by the Biophilia Summit Committee ✅ |
| April 17 | Proposal acceptance* and rejection notifications sent ✅ |
| April 18 | Biophilia Summit 2023 Registration opens ✅ |
| May 6 | Early Bird registration deadline ✅ |
| May 25 | Speakers final presentations submission |
| June 7 | Biophilia Summit 2023 |
(*) A detailed timeline with additional deadline information will be issued at the time of speaker acceptance. In appreciation of their contribution to the success of Biophilia Summit 2023, accepted speakers are eligible for a complimentary ticket.
Apply submitting your abstract under one the biophilic areas below. Deadline: March 31st 2023.
- 1. Agriculture
- 2. Architecture
- 3. Art
- 4. Artificial Intelligence & Technology
- 5. Books
- 6. Education
- 7. Fashion
- 8. Management & Leadership
- 9. Photography & Film making
- 10. Product Design
- 11. Psychology & Anthropology
- 12. Research & Practice
Urban architecture and biophilic gardens: enhancing nature connectedness. Urban farming and agriculture, and the returning trend to cultivate within cities in order to reconnect with nature, recover awareness of life cycles and reducing the impact of producing and delivering food through industrial processes from afar.
Biophilic design shakes up the conceptual process by asking new questions, provokes new reflections on the potential of the built environment and invites the project team to explore the advantages of a design aimed at the connection between human being and nature. Including interior design and social housing. The Living Building Challenge framework could be a source of inspiration.
Biophilia in art is in crafting art that enhances the reconnection with nature and mental health and well-being. By summoning up the senses and sense experience, and becoming present in and with nature, a pause moment is created, which develops into a more discerning emotional awareness of our wellbeing and that of the ecological world we impact.
Virtual environment can provide an artificial exposure to natural elements, combining biophilic patterns, providing stimuli and multimodal sensorial inputs. This represents an opportunity where real natural experiences are not possible to achieve but also introduces new questions and issues. Including Metaverse.
Showcasing, inspiring, informative, and educational books around the “re-connection to nature” and “love for nature”. Including novels, essays, handbooks, guidelines, booklets.
A biophilic approach is important not only for adults but also for children and teenagers whose physical and mental growth are influenced by the environment around them. Nature is a great teacher, we are calling for educational practices connected to biophilia, promoting wellness, cultural richness, and equity.
Biophilic design in fashion is in creating clothing and accessories that enhance the wearer’s well-being. Connecting them with the natural world, using materials and production methods that are environmentally robust. Increasingly popular as consumers become more aware of the impact of fashion on the natural world and seek more sustainable and healthy clothing options.
The typical organisational environment is hugely disconnected from the natural world and dysfunctional. New learning and skills are required for leaders and executives to achieve key targets. Agile management, awareness, sustainability, empathy, authenticity, openness, are all approaches that we can learn from nature.
Showing the connection with Nature’s intelligence, creating images and videos that enhance well-being through nature images. Photos and videos might be a landscape, a detailed view, or something completely different. Elements and attributes from Stephen R. Kellert’s work could be a source of inspiration.
Products whose primary use will not further disconnect people from nature, with the potential to transform people’s relationship to the natural world or to others in their community through the manufacturing process, informed by the natural world and biomimicry. The Living Product Challenge framework could be a source of inspiration.
The biophilia hypothesis is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. The term biophilia was used by Erich Fromm which in 1973 described biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.” Anecdotal and qualitative evidence suggests that humans are innately attracted to nature.
Latest research around biophilia, biophilic design and health and wellbeing benefits: scientific articles, publications, findings, frameworks, tools.
Application data and documents
To submit your proposal you will be required to include:
- your data
- short bio (less than 1.500 characters, included spaces)
- headshot photo
- which area you are applying for
- proposal’s title
- abstract (less than 2.000 characters, included spaces)
- attachments (if any)
- your motivation to be part of the Biophilia Summit 2023
Application requirements and evaluation
Successful applications will
- Offer a deep understanding of timely and significant content including biophilia implementation case studies, deep dives, and information that can create value and support among the audience.
- Provide access to sources, data and resources for information and specifications.
- Present replicable and scalable ideas for a biophilic approach implementation and provide clear takeaways that attendees can implement in their work after the event.
- Demonstrate qualified and engaging presenters with topic-relevant experience, as evidenced through presenter bios, event speaking experience, and video presentations, whenever available.
- Include clear, relevant learning objectives and challenging content for an advanced audience.
- Provide thought leading and creative insights into potential development of biophilic design.
Selected speakers will receive
- 1 (one) individual complimentary ticket for the whole event
- excellent visibility in all communication materials
[Photo by David Marcu on Unsplash]
The jury
Since inception, we have built habitats from Cornwall to North Norfolk. We have undertaken rigorous research in the theory of integrated ecosystem architecture. This is the combining of the human and natural worlds, to aid in simple requirements such as clean water, clean air and daily interactions with plants and wildlife. More broadly, we are committed to being a company whose impact on the planet is entirely positive.
Building on his 45 years UK and overseas experience in project management, business improvement and sustainability he now supports many leading organisations and practices.
Martin explores our sustainable future, sharing powerful messages and inspiring stories, highlighting the tough choices we face and the opportunities we have to create a better tomorrow.
From understanding climate change, reconnecting with nature, rethinking carbon management and the materials we use in our buildings, he acknowledges we can all imagine better and provokes improvement.
Author of FutuREstorative, Working Towards a New Sustainability, RIBA 2016. Co-Founder and Vice Chair of RESTORE (Rethinking Sustainability Towards a Regenerative Economy), a 4 Year EU Cost Action research network. Founder of the Living Building Challenge UK Collaborative and advisor to the Cuerden Valley Park Visitor Center, the first LBC registered project in UK. Co-Founder of online construction carbon tool, ConstructCO2.
Working to expand the research around LCA, wellbeing, equity and ownership, driving towards not just net zero energy in construction and manufacturing but net positive energy.
Equitable housing for all. Everyone has the right to a robust, warm, dry home with access to good daylight, outdoor space and within a vibrant and safe community.
Practical Creativity is my starting point and approach. This fosters the idea of learning through doing and inspirational pragmatism.
I bring an unconventional and unwavering passion for the built environment, detailed construction knowledge, and a desire to make a positive change in the environment and those that I work with.
I am an architectural technologist (MCIAT), architect (ARB), an academic (SFHEA), a practical researcher, and an educator.
My practical background spans over 20 years, in architectural practices in the UK and Germany, as a freelance designer and photographer, in two languages.
I moved into sustainability around 7 years ago where I developed in action with brands and small businesses, and I then finally focused on my consultancy Circular Earth. At Circular Earth we help brands to create parallel sustainable brands or start up with Circularity at the heart – let us be your mission control. I also lecture on sustainability and ethics in business at university level.
Throughout my studies I realised that the very things that we were creating in the sustainability space were a mere sticking plaster to the systems that we were standing on, therefore often counterproductive and coming back to the old systemic ways that do not have them thrive. Indeed, fashion can be a competitive cut throat industry, so we wanted to turn this on its head and have many come together for lasting change.
So, I started to work with the regenerative structuring and new economics that I had learnt in my studies to create a collaborative called ‘’The Ecosystem Incubator’’ where different players in the small fashion and business space start to collaborate on many of the things that they find tough to do in isolation. The Ecosystem is based on living systems thinking where we model the workings of a forest – to create a forest of fashion – in a metaphorical sense.
This is my mantra ............I borrowed it from Jean Baudrillard's book, "The System of Objects" 1968 and it sums up what I feel and why I love doing what I do.
It is in my journeys for work and for pleasure over many years that I have taken time to look, listen and admire in silence the craftsmen and the artists at work - Intent and focused on creating such beautiful objects; the outcome is always astouding.
It has become addictive and the only cure is to share... so here is Odart whose mission is to to share access to such beautiful and talented craftsmen and artists.
