Living with the Planet: Explore humanity’s relationship with climate and nature at the British Academy

This autumn, the British Academy is inviting the public to join the climate conversation and unpick humanity’s relationship with nature at its latest events season, Living with the Planet.

A diverse series of talks, exhibitions and panel discussions will ask how we can live as part of the natural world – featuring campaigners, experts and Fellows of the British Academy like mycologist Merlin Sheldrake, author Guy Shrubsole and Professor Dipesh Chakrabarty FBA.

Running from 21 September to 25 November 2025, the programme has been shaped by season advisors Professor Melissa Leach FBA and Dr Jaya Gajparia. Highlights include:

• ‘Living with the Planet Public Late’, Thursday 9 October: An eclectic evening that examines our evolving connection with the natural world. Immerse yourself in the sounds and music of the rainforests of Papua New Guinea, discuss solutions for tackling the biodiversity crisis with campaigners and researchers and imagine your own climate future with a creative zine-making workshop.
• ‘Ask the Experts: Global climate equality – Is a fair future possible?’,  23 October: Leading thinkers from the humanities and social sciences answer your questions about the state of global climate politics.
• ‘ICA Screening: A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things (2024)’, 8 November: Watch the latest documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Mark Cousins, who dives into the life and art of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham.
• ‘The Future of Food’, 13 November: Envision the future of food with world-leading experts, as they consider not only emerging technologies, but also practices of the past that have shaped how we grow and consume food today.
• ‘Down to Earth: Why soil matters’, 25 November: Unpack the relationship between humans and soil in a discussion with Professor Melissa Leach FBA, Merlin Sheldrake, and Professor Martin Bell FBA.

Most events are free and will take place at the British Academy’s historic central London home and online, with some workshops carrying a small fee. Places are limited, so advance booking is advised.

Visit www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/seasons/living-with-the-planet for the full season programme.

Event season adviser Professor Melissa Leach, Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative and Fellow of the British Academy, said: “How can humans live well alongside other living things on our shared planet? This question is in ever sharper focus as climate change and biodiversity loss continue to devastate communities across the world. Despite decades of global initiatives and innovation, it is increasingly clear that these challenges cannot be resolved with scientific knowledge, technical or financial fixes alone. We need to engage more deeply with the social, cultural, moral, political, historical and economic issues that are fuelling the climate and nature crises. This timely British Academy events season will connect the public with social sciences and humanities research that builds holistic understanding of environmental issues and offers answers for how we can achieve a liveable and climate-conscious future for us all.”

For further information contact the Press Office on [email protected]  / 07500 010 432.