Launching the Forest School lunchtime talks

Today sees the launch of Forest School Talks, a new public programme from Central Saint Martins in collaboration with White Arkitekter and Forestry England. Join us over the next few months for events, dialogues and projects that use the forest as a prism to understand and address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity.

There is growing hope that forests might hold answers to systems that are fairer for everyone and respect planetary boundaries. Solutions range from business-as-usual offsets using forests as carbon sinks, to more empathic approaches that see forests as intelligent co-dependent ecosystems that embody deep-time thinking. There are many myths that anchor forests deep in our cultural psyches, yet guardian communities with practices of gratitude and connection with nature have been marginalised.

We need to drastically rethink how we live on, and with, this planet with finite ecological limits. Can forests inform new ways for collective living?

Forest School is a journey into the forest to discover, learn and re-form not only the practice of architecture, but the ways in which we live together within wider planetary systems.

The collaboration with CSM through The Forest School is a great opportunity for us to expand the conversation around the climate emergency and ecological thinking, together with researchers, activists and future practitioners.
Jake Ford, Partner, White Arkitekter Malmö

Whether you are a student, practitioner or simply curious, please join us in the debate as we explore our relationship with the natural environment and new perspectives on decarbonisation and decolonisation, with the forest at its heart.

Programme

All talks will be held online and are scheduled between 13.30-14.30 GMT on the following dates:

19 January: Nature / Culture

02 February: Indigenous knowledges

16 February: Regenerative design

02 March: Rewilding

16 March: Offsetting

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