Nature Nearby: Planning Biophilic Cities

Wilson’s concept of Biophilia (1984) recognises the human need for, and psychological benefits of, daily contact with nature. The role of nature in human well-being is now widely accepted; however, cities and urban spaces are increasingly devoid of nature and many urban places offer limited opportunity for access to nature and green space. As the majority of the world’s population now reside in an urban setting, it is important to consider how the planning system help to create urban environments that reconnect people with nature.

This practice-orientated, multi-disciplinary conference is co-organised by Queen’s University, Northern Ireland Environment Link and Landscape Institute Northern Ireland (with very generous sponsorship from the Culture and Society Research Cluster in the School of the Natural and Built Environment in Queen's University). It will seek to start a dialogue on current practice and to inspire and inform local policy makers in Northern Ireland by showcasing best practice examples of how natural habitats can be promoted within new urban developments.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr Tim Beatley, University of Virginia Architecture School
http://biophiliccities.org

Nick Grayson, Climate Change and Sustainability Manager for Birmingham City Council
https://naturalcapitalforum.com/news/article/nick-grayson

Dan Raven-Ellison, guerilla geographer and London National Park City campaigner
https://ravenellison.com

Simon Watt, biologist and film-maker
http://www.readysteadyscience.com

Dr Sarah Payne, Heriot-Watt University
https://researchportal.hw.ac.uk/en/persons/sarah-r-payne

Joe Clancy, Landscape Institute Northern Ireland
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-clancy-79538632

For further details on the conference please contact Neil Galway - n.galway@qub.ac.uk or Jonathan Bell - jonathan@nienvironmentlink.org