Lunchtime Talk: The Beauty of Nature

Knowing and making beauty: three ideas from the art of science

What is beauty and how do we know it? From ideas about balance and harmony to ideas about how things should look like, when we think about the beauty of our planet we often think about pristine spaces untouched by humans that flood our senses with the vibrancy of their colours, shapes and patterns. And that is true. But this talk will argue that humans, particularly when they work together, are part of what makes our planet beautiful. It will also look at the relationship between science and art and offer three ideas from the art of research to find and protect the beauty of Planet Earth.

About the speakers:

María Paula is Senior Lecturer in Environmental Geography at Bristol Veterinary School. Her research explores tensions and intersections between livestock farming, conservation and the environment, drawing from studies of regulation as governance, more-than-human geographies, Planetary Health and the politics of materiality. She leads interdisciplinary teams in different regions of Colombia, including the high altitude páramos of Boyacá and the rainforests of the Amazon. She is an experienced science communicator and a 2023 Fellow of the Association of British Science Writers, with a footprint in the BBC, the Hay Festival and Wired.

Jaskiran Kaur Chohan Jaskiran is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the School of Geographical Sciences. Her research explores agroecology, the construction of alternative socio-ecologies and peace through food, particularly in conflict zones in Latin America. She uses an interdisciplinary, co-produced approach and intersectional lens to unpack challenges around transforming food, building agrobiodiversity, and sustainable peace.

Steve Simpson Steve is a Professor of Marine Biology & Global Change. He is a marine and fish biologist, restoration ecologist, science communicator and ocean optimist whose research focusses on understanding impacts of global threats (overfishing, warming seas, ocean acidification) and using this knowledge to deliver solutions (adaptive fisheries, coral reef restoration, acoustic sanctuaries). Steve contributes regularly to TV and radio (eg BBC Blue Planet II), collaborates with artists and composers (eg Cassie To), and shares his research through citizen science and storytelling (eg COP27).

Tickets: There's no charge for entry and tickets aren't essential but they guarantee you a seat.