Seeds of Thought A Lunchtime Talk with David Farrier
The environment on Earth is evolving, and the critical issue is whether we can evolve alongside it. Is it possible for us to reshape our world so that all forms of life can flourish again? For almost four billion years, Earth’s organisms have innovated, multiplied, and prospered, continuously evolving to suit the conditions of their time. However, human influence on the planet, combined with the severe risks posed by climate change, has put unprecedented pressure on this ability to adapt. Despite these challenges, life persists. Creatures, flora, and insects continue to meet these obstacles head-on, adapting, breeding, and succeeding even in our swiftly altering surroundings. Their resilience offers us potential strategies for adaptation and ways to halt the environmental damage we are inflicting.
In *Nature’s Genius*, David Farrier guides us through a captivating exploration of this dynamic natural realm. The insights we gain might fundamentally alter our perspectives. Observing how animals adapt to city environments could inspire the creation of eco-friendly urban areas. Exploring different forms of intelligence might lead us to reinvent our economic systems. Insights from bacterial development could address our waste issues. Advances in synthetic biology might save species on the verge of disappearing. Adopting the long-term perspectives of nature could steer us toward wiser choices for the future.
David Farrier holds the position of Professor of Literature and the Environment at the University of Edinburgh. His debut book, *Footprints: In Search of Future Fossils*, examined the lasting impacts humans are imprinting on Earth and how these might be preserved in future geological records. Celebrated as a book of the year by both The Times and Telegraph, it received accolades from Robert Macfarlane and Margaret Atwood and has been published in nine additional languages. Farrier’s writings have appeared in outlets such as the Atlantic, BBC Future, Emergence, Prospect, Daily Telegraph, Orion, and Washington Post. He has participated in various online discussions, delivered a keynote at the Royal Geographical Society, and featured on radio shows and podcasts like BBC Free Thinking and Little Atoms.
We invite you to join a sequence of midday discussions with scholars, innovators, artists, creatives, and others who share our curiosity. Over the next year, we offer a lineup of thought-provoking topics to ponder over lunch. If the weather allows, we’ll meet outside to enrich our thoughts in the fresh air, with indoor options ready if needed.
In the initial four sessions, we’ll delve into nature’s patterns – from annual cycles to geological transformations and the forces molding life on Earth and
