Registrations for the 2024 Biophilia Summit are open!

Living Future Europe is happy to announce that registrations are open for our 2nd Biophilia Summit, taking place online, June 6th, 2024.

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

Early-bird pricing is available until May 6th!

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The Biophilia Summit

  • When: 6th June 2024 [timing will enable presentations worldwide]
  • Where: online
  • Target group: biophilic lovers, architects, designers, psychologists, educators, artists, researchers, consultants, manufacturers, policy makers.
  • Language: English
  • Organisation: The Biophilic Society [a Living Future Europe initiative]
  • Further information: biophilicsociety@living-future.eu

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Schedule coming soon!

Topic Areas

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.

Acknowledging and learning from indigenous peoples and place stewardship. 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.

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.

The biophilic city is an ecosystem of nature connectedness, fully embrace a regenerative biophilia that allows all life to thrive. We are inviting narratives from cities that through policy, implementation or practice are becoming biophilic.

Biophilia and Biophilic Design is not just for the finished building in use, but can provide a far better and positive well being environment for those working on sites during the construction phase.

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. We are inviting narratives from across the education spectrum.

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.

AI generated images of an imagined biophilic future. If we cannot imagine a better future and what that feels and looks like, we will have a lower chance of getting there. We are inviting your images for a future biophilic place. A co-created future that works for all of life  This can be through AI or other art media, along with your written prompt / description of the imagined future

The typical organizational 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. We are inviting leadership and management practices that are rooted in learning from and with 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 does 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.

Pushing biophilic thinking. Latest research around biophilia, biophilic design and health and wellbeing benefits: scientific articles, publications, findings, frameworks, tools.

Showcasing, inspiring, informative, and educational books around the “reconnection to nature” and “love for nature”. Including novels, essays, handbooks, guidelines, booklets. We are inviting the story and narrative of your own work, or of that which has inspired, even transformed your biophilic mindset.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Angela Loder

President, Greening the City

Dr. Angela Loder is President, Greening the City, a consulting firm focused on urban planning, sustainability, nature and health. While Vice President, Research at the International WELL Building Institute, Dr. Loder co-lead the development of the 2020 Global Research Agenda on Health, Well-being and the Built Environment with the international IWBI Research Advisory, was the lead author on the 2023 12 Competencies for measuring health and well-being for organizations, and managed and expanded the pre-approved survey provider program for all WELL Certified projects. She also led the development of social metrics for circularity with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. As a research scientist, strategic planner, and educator, Dr. Loder brings over fifteen years of experience in interdisciplinary research and partnerships around health, well-being, and the built and natural environment. She is a Canada-US Fulbright Scholar and holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. She has published extensively on urban nature and health, and her book “Small-Scale Urban Greening: Creating Places of Health, Creativity, and Ecological Sustainability” was published with Routledge in 2020.

Miles Richardson

Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness - University of Derby

Miles Richardson is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Ergonomist and Professor of Human Factors and Nature Connectedness at the University of Derby. He founded the award winning Nature Connectedness Research Group which aims to understand and improve connection with nature to unite both human and nature’s wellbeing. The group works closely with Natural England and its work has been adopted by many organisations, including the National Trust, RSPB and 2021 Mental Health Awareness week. Miles is also the creator of the award winning ‘biodiversity stripes’ and a lead author on the ‘Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) global transformative change assessment. His 2023 book Reconnection: Fixing our Broken Relationship with Nature was a Spectator magazine ‘book of the year’.

Oliver Heath

Global Expert in Biophilic Design - Oliver Heath Design

Oliver Heath is an industry recognised expert in the field of Biophilic and Sustainable Design working within the built environment. With a background in architecture, his design practice Oliver Heath Design explores a passion for evidence-based design, wellbeing and communications.
His extensive media experience has given him the opportunity to present for numerous television channels, exhibitions and seminars. Since 1998 he has presented television programmes working for the likes of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Discovery Channel and Norway’s TV2.
As an expert communicator and qualified Domestic Energy assessor he has worked for The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, the Energy Saving Trust and the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Alongside the team at OHD, Oliver also acts as biophilic design consultant and gatekeeper to a range of established companies such as Interface, John Lewis and Accor.

Photo Credit: Richard Hanson

[Header photo Gardens By The Bay, Singapore by “isaac.” on Unsplash]