Biophilia Network
Join Pittsburgh’s new network of creative minds working together to strengthen the bond between people and the natural world.
Biophilia: Pittsburgh is the pilot chapter for a global Biophilia Network. Read on to learn about our next event!
Biophilia: “Animals and People-The Reciprocal Benefits of Our Relationships with Companion Animals.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: This week’s biophilia meeting will be in the Center for Sustainable Landscapes classroom. You can access this location by turning into the Phipps employee parking lot by the Christopher Columbus status on Schenley Drive Extension.
Join us Thurs., Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. for an in-person and virtual Biophilia meet-up where we will consider questions such as; why do people love animals? Is there any science behind how we feel or are we trained by those around us to like them? How do the animals feel? Do they really love us back, or are we just a food source? How can we know how they feel? We will discuss scientific findings in humans, dogs and cats to answer these questions while also discovering the many ways our relationship with companion animals benefits both parties.
Not able to join us in person? We will also be streaming the event via Zoom! Register here.
Meetings are free to attend; however, advance registration is required via email. Click the button below to reserve your spot today.
Meet the Speaker:
Melissa Stammely-Park, MSc
Melissa has been the Therapeutic Programs Coordinator at Animal Friends since September 2022, overseeing the Therapets pet therapy program as well as the Animal Friends for Veterans program. Melissa earned a Master of Science in Anthrozoology (the study of human-animal relationships) in 2021 from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY after spending seven years volunteering for the Humane Animal Rescue Pittsburgh’s (HARP) wildlife rehabilitation center. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, which led her to a 10-year social services career helping children and families in need. A lifetime animal lover, she could not overlook the importance of animals in human lives, particularly the benefits to mental health. Melissa observed these benefits in herself as well as in her three sons (ages 20, 17 and 15) and husband and decided to dedicate the remainder of her career to helping others understand this important relationship from both sides. In addition to the family members mentioned above, Melissa lives with two rescue dogs, Gunner and Aiko, and a new kitten named Yuki. She hikes with her dogs at every opportunity and is a voracious reader of fiction, especially women’s historical fiction.
Information for virtual attendees: The Zoom meeting will begin promptly at 6 p.m. (EST), 3 p.m. (PST). After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Designed as a series of posts on the Phipps blog and a hashtag for use on Twitter and Instagram, #bioPGH is a new social call-to-action for people throughout the region to more closely examine the beauty and importance of the nature around them.
The Biophilic Mind is a blog focused on presenting primary-source articles at the intersection of human health and the natural world. The Biophilic Mind aims to highlight high quality, recent research about the connections between well-being and nature.
Inspired by the Biophilic Cities initiative, the Biophilia: Pittsburgh Directory seeks to present an overview of the biophilic organizations, events, activities and projects in Pittsburgh, to aid the public in enhancing their connections to nature and discovering collaborative opportunities.
In this archive, you may access presentation materials and video recordings from previous installments of our monthly Biophilia: Pittsburgh meeting series. Additions will be made often, so visit regularly for the latest materials to deepen your Biophilia: Pittsburgh experience.
Biophilia: Pittsburgh meets monthly at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens where, over delicious small-plates and light refreshments, an expert guest speaker discusses ways of connecting people to nature and showing how these connections can improve our lives in the interest of sharing ideas and identifying opportunities.
Our Goals
• To welcome and inspire others with the concept and principles of biophilia
• To foster collaboration and learning between professionals from a wide variety of disciplines
• To communicate biophilic principles in action-oriented ways to a wider audience for exponential and regional impact
What Is Biophilia?
The term “biophilia,” which literally means “love of life,” was coined by social psychologist Erich Fromm and popularized by biologist E.O. Wilson, who defined it as “the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms.”
The implications of biophilia 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.
Photo © Paul g. Wiegman, Phipps staff
