Soil Yourself September! What Lies Beneath: Do soils shape minds?
What Lies Beneath: Do soils shape minds from the ground up? with Dr Jake Robinson
Date and time
Location
Online
About this event
- Event lasts 1 hour
Mental health is shaped by a complex web of interactions between biological, environmental, and social systems. In this talk, I take a ‘systems thinking’ approach to explore the underappreciated but potentially powerful role of soils in this network, linking them not only to air quality and microbial exposure, but also to multisensory experiences that influence the gut-brain axis - and ultimately our minds. Healthy soils support vegetation that improves air quality, buffers noise, moderates temperature and emits chemical and microbial signals, creating immersive environments that affect our nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Conversely, soil degradation can increase unhealthy airborne particulates and reduce the richness of the aerobiome, with possible downstream effects on inflammation and mental wellbeing.
By tracing these interconnections, from dust and microbes to scent, sound and stress, I argue for a more holistic understanding of environmental determinants of mental health. This perspective invites cross-sector collaboration in restoration, urban planning and public health to design environments that are not just biodiverse, but biocompatible.
Join Jake for a fascinating talk!
Dr Jake M. Robinson is an interdisciplinary researcher and science communicator working at the nexus of microbial ecology, ecosystem restoration, and human health. Grounded in systems thinking, his work explores how ecological, biological, and cultural processes interact to shape resilient futures. Jake contributes to global initiatives such as the UNFCCC Resilience Frontiers think tank and leads science-driven projects that bridge research, public engagement, and imaginative transformation. He is the author of several acclaimed popular science books and a passionate advocate for rethinking how ecological science serves people and the planet.
Jake is passionate about making complex science accessible to everyone. He is the author of Invisible Friends (2023), TREEWILDING (2024), and The Nature of Pandemics (2025). He also hosts two podcasts (Interconnected and Naked Thinking) and a new YouTube channel: @naturegutbrain. For more information and to sign up to Jake’s newsletter, visit: www.jakemrobinson.com