Nature of Place Symposium

Beth Osnes was invited to present on Side by Side for the 2022 Nature of Place Symposium, “The Voice of Change,” for the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburg on June 16, 2022.

One of the largest obstacles in our human response to environmental issues like climate change has nothing to do with technology, knowledge, or intelligence: it’s human behavior and mindset. We often fear change, struggle to authentically communicate with those around us, and feel like we lack the tools to influence decision makers. With all of this in mind, the goal of Nature of Place: The Voice of Change was to help us connect to our communities, reconnect with the natural world, and catalyze real and lasting change towards climate action and an equitable green future.

The Nature of Place symposium centered on the implications of biophilia — the innate human connection to nature — which extend across a vast array of disciplines including design and engineering, nutrition, psychology, public health, education, biology and the humanities. Biophilia is expressed all over the world every day, through complex collaborations such as the design and construction of buildings and landscapes; and intimate, personal encounters including nature hikes and home gardening. We shared our work with young people using an art-science approach to observing, researching, embodying, and creatively expressing their feeling of connection with various Colorado bird species.

Learn more about the Nature of Place Symposium here, and explore upcoming events featuring Side by Side on our events page!