Conference
The future of our ecosystems
Organised by Nesta
Human destruction of the natural environment is often thought of as terminal. Once ecosystems are eradicated from places - for instance through forest clearance or nuclear catastrophe - there is no hope of their return. In her latest book, Islands of Abandonment, Cal Flyn shows this not to be the case. War zones and abandoned cities flourish in the absence of human-induced environmental catastrophe, becoming important sites of ecological richness.
Join us in conversation with Cal Flyn and our Sustainable Future Mission Manager Oliver Zanetti on Tuesday 8 November 12:00-13:00. We’ll be talking to Cal about her research - from the recolonisation of piles rock from mining waste to examples of species reconquering nuclear sites and polluted lakes - and how we can find hope in the face of environmental catastrophe.
Why you should come
This event is for anyone interested in the resilience of our ecosystems, whether you’re working in the sector or just interested in the future of our natural world. Cal and Olly will discuss environmental renewal, the future of our ecosystems and how an optimistic approach to ecology could be the key to overcoming climate anxiety and inactivism.
Cal Flyn
Cal Flyn is an award-winning writer from the Highlands of Scotland. She writes long form journalism and literary nonfiction. Her latest book, Islands of Abandonment, has been a Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for numerous awards including the Baillie Gifford Prize for nonfiction. It was the 2021 winner of The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award, the UK and Ireland's most influential prize for young writers.
Oliver Zanetti
Oliver is a Mission Manager for Nesta’s sustainable future mission, which focuses on home decarbonisation and economic recovery.
Oliver leads research and innovation projects in the sustainable future mission. In particular, his work focuses on increasing the appeal of low carbon heating to householders and boosting the skills and capacity in the market to meet that demand.
With a PhD in human geography, and five years of postdoctoral experience, Oliver manages the research and analytical capacity of the sustainable future mission. He joined Nesta following a two year postdoctoral position at the University of Oxford examining the social impact of smart city technologies. He has also previously worked as a researcher at the Open University and lectured in geography at Queen Mary, University of London.