Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer: ‘The clock is ticking but the world will teach us what we need to do’
Jun 4, 2024
auto_awesome
Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses merging Western science with Indigenous knowledge, emphasizing gratitude for nature and learning from ancient plants. The importance of moss resilience and reevaluating success. Shifting from viewing nature as a commodity to a gift, advocating for a kin-centric relationship with nature. Updates on UK election, French Open tennis, and AI solutions.
Mosses symbolize sustainability through simplicity, showcasing adaptability and resilience to climate changes.
Embracing reciprocity and gratitude towards nature promotes responsible stewardship, contrasting with exploitative Western ideologies.
Deep dives
The Significance of Mosses in Environmental Philosophy
Mosses, often overlooked, represent adaptability through simplicity in the plant world. With more than 17,000 species, they are biodiverse and resilient to climate changes. By living within natural limits and prioritizing cooperation over dominance, mosses serve as models for sustainability amidst environmental crises, emphasizing the importance of minimalism and giving back.
Gratitude and Reciprocity in Nature's Teachings
Plants, like mosses, teach reciprocity and gratitude through their interactions with the ecosystem. Indigenous philosophies highlight the importance of giving back to nature, viewing plants as teachers and gifts. Recognizing the inherent value of nature as a gift promotes responsible stewardship of the Earth, contrasting with exploitative Western ideologies and emphasizing the need for ethical relationships with the environment.
Integrating Indigenous and Western Knowledge for Environmental Conservation
Indigenous land care practices promote biodiversity conservation, offering valuable insights for Western ecology. Embracing reciprocity with the natural world fosters mutual flourishing of all life forms. Bridging Indigenous and Western scientific perspectives can lead to holistic ecosystem management, emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence of human and non-human realms for sustainable coexistence.
For a long time, western science and Indigenous knowledge have been seen as distinct ways of learning about the world. But as we plunge the planet deeper into environmental crises, it is becoming clear that it is time to pay attention to both. Bridging that gap has been the driving force behind the career of the botanist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer. She tells Madeleine Finlay what we can learn from the most ancient plants on Earth, why we need to cultivate gratitude for the natural world and what western science can learn from Indigenous knowledge. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode