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: Mindfulness in the Outdoors: Practices for Connecting with Nature for Health and Serenity
IMPORTANT NOTE: This week’s biophilia meeting will ONLY be hosted virtually through Zoom.
Join us Thurs., April 3 at 6 p.m., for our virtual Biophilia meeting, where we will be acknowledging the relationship that humans have to the natural world throughout their evolution and how often in the clamor of modern life, it’s easy to lose touch. For a millennia, poets and philosophers have celebrated the healing powers of nature. Today, physicians and scientists are documenting its ability to promote physical and mental wellbeing. This session will introduce connective practices gleaned from Shinrin-yoku, Sit Spots, Council Circles, meditation and The Deep Time Walks. We’ll also review some of the studies that validate how spending time in nature is good for you!
Meetings are free to attend; however, advance registration is required via email. Click the button below to reserve your spot today.
Meet the Speakers:
Martha O’Grady
Martha O’Grady became a Forest Guide to share her passion for the great outdoors. As Thich Nhat Hanh says: “Cherishing our precious Earth – falling in love with the Earth – is not an obligation. It is a matter of personal and collective happiness and survival.” As a member of the Plum Village Order of Interbeing, Martha has a long-standing mindfulness practice which heightens her sense of gratitude for the land and all who traverse it. When not out exploring State or National Parks, Martha writes and produces videos through Panta Rhei Media. She completed a masters degree in communication studies at Northern Illinois University and a bachelors degree at Seton Hill University.
Information for 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
