Drylands have so much to teach us about resilience and adaptation during changing and challenging times.We will be exploring and revealing the multifaceted possibilities revealed in such places. Often seen as barren or lifeless, drylands are in fact ecosystems of profound complexity ~ shaped by scarcity, tuned to survival and rich with adaptive wisdom. In these landscapes, life has evolved to flourish under extremes, offering us models for resilience in a time of global ecological uncertainty. Their rhythms challenge dominant narratives of productivity and permanence, inviting us to learn from forms of life that thrive through minimalism, cooperation, and deep attunement to place.
In this session, we’ll uncover the multifaceted possibilities held within drylands ~ not only as ecological systems, but as cultural, political, and symbolic terrains that are increasingly important in our warming world.
Our guests bring diverse and illuminating perspectives to these often-misunderstood landscapes:
Dr Elli Groner, ecologist and long-time researcher of arid ecosystems, reveals the intricate relationships that sustain biodiversity under pressure, from soil crusts to flowering pulses ~ showing how fragile systems can hold great strength.
Kelly Herbinson, conservationist and advocate for desert protection, explores how science, storytelling, and stewardship converge in drylands ~ highlighting community-led efforts to defend these lands against extractive threats.
Angel Chen, artist and designer, brings a creative lens to aridity, exploring how aesthetics, perception, and adaptation intersect in dryland spaces ~ and how these environments can inspire new approaches to design, memory, and material culture.
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