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: New Year, New Hobby? Get Inspired by Western PA’s Folkloric and Historical Botanical Practices!
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., Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. for an in-person and virtual Biophilia meet-up! Have you ever wondered about the history of gardening in Pittsburgh? What about the long-held tradition of maple harvesting? From foraged herbal medicine gathered in Appalachia to Italian wine making, there are many ways we connect to our past, the land and our community with plant-based traditions. During this discussion, we will learn about different traditions and cultural practices that are based in Pittsburgh's ecosystem and how we can become even closer to the land and community around us.
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:
Lindsay Anne Herring
Lindsay Anne Herring is a Folklorist and manager of the Folk and Traditional Arts program at Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance. She is an expert in oral history, and has worked with the Senator John Heinz History Center, Smithsonian Folklife Center, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and Chatham University in varying contexts using storytelling and oral history as methods to understand our culture and society. Outside of her role with PRAA, Lindsay is a performing artist, journalist and museum researcher. She has written for platforms including Table Magazine and Civil Eats. Lindsay holds a Bachelor of Arts in musical theatre and dance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in food studies from Chatham University.
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
