How to put nature at the heart of our work: catalysing ‘nature-centric’ organisational transformation

Seminar followed by Q&A, drinks and book signing – attend in person or join online – all welcome

Abstract: To effectively address the global nature crisis, major science-policy organizations have called for a deep cultural shift, to overcome our sense of disconnection and domination over nature. However, implementation of such a transformation in values and attitudes is still limited. This lively talk will summarize new research into how we can catalyze a shift in our sense of connection and care towards nature. It will also explore how such changes can ‘cascade up’ into new organizational structures. Participants are encouraged to prepare by watching a short documentary NATURE-CENTRIC, produced in collaboration with award-winning film company Fleeting Year Films, which gives real world examples of such changes, from farming to river governance (https://youtu.be/HloPEMSwymU). We will then be well primed to enter into a more detailed technical discussion of the evidence for changes to organizational culture, built environment, protocols and ways of working, which can enable a shift in mindsets and culture towards deep sustainability.

Biography: Tom Oliver is an Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Environment) and Professor of Applied Ecology at the University of Reading. He was a senior academic Fellow with the UK government (Defra), helping them to set up a ‘Systems Research Programme’, and advises the UK Cabinet Office on interacting risks as part of the UK National Security Risk Assessment. He currently sits on the Food Standards Agency science council and expert college for the Office for Environmental Protection. He regularly advises the European Commission and previously served as a member of the European Environment Agency scientific committee, working on sustainability transitions. Tom leads a VKRF-funded project ‘Catalyst for nature-centric governance and awareness’ and has published over 100 interdisciplinary papers, including on vicious cycles between self-identity and nature degradation, and the factors that ‘lock-in’ society to prevent transformation to sustainability. His writing has appeared in the Guardian, Independent and BBC Science Focus and he is author two popular science books The Self Delusion: The Surprising Science of Our Connection to Each Other and the Natural World (2020) and The Nature Delusion: Why we Can’t Fix the World Without Fixing Ourselves (2026).
Linked in: www.linkedin.com/in/tom-oliver-a76b27167

The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery and the Nature Network are interested in promoting a wide variety of views and opinions on nature recovery from researchers and practitioners. The views, opinions and positions expressed within this lecture are those of the author alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery/Nature Network, or its researchers.