Case Study: Arts and Sustainability Thematic Group
Philosophy in the Wild Garden Project
Academics and Institutional Affiliation:
Nora Ward, Lucy Elvis, Orla Richardson
Discipline of Philosophy, University of Galway
Background:
Garden project integrating themes and practices of environmental ethics with ecologically positive actions
Impacts, Outcomes, and Key Learnings:
The garden functions as a reflective and social space in which habits of ecological attentiveness can be developed, and hosts multiple small-scale, student-involved biodiversity projects, including a wild lawn, miniature native hedgerow, insect shelters, etc. There is a “free little library” box in the garden.
The philosophy in the wild garden project is now extending into a wider, more international project (also coincidentally called “philosophy in the wild: finding hope in mixed communities”) which seeks to make visible and inspire healthy “mixed communities” of human and nonhuman co-inhabitants, a concept which is informed by the philosophical work of Mary Midgley. This year, thirteen universities are involved, of which University of Galway is one. Our UG project will focus on attentiveness to the so-called “non-charismatic species” which share our campus and wider community but often go unnoticed, such as pigeons, bats, insects, and rodents. It will involve philosophical dialogue, art, and intentional practices of attentiveness, and will culminate in a multispecies poetry making workshop next spring. The garden will be a focal point for this project. Click here for more information on the groups. This project involves the academics mentioned above but also Michela Dianetti (University of Galway) and Chiara li Mandri (University of Palermo)
Webpages:
https://www.instagram.com/philosophyinthewildgarden/
SDGs impacted:
SDG 13 & SDG 15
