Caring

The topic of care was explored through the unique ecology of Floating University, a temporary inner-city laboratory for collective, experiential learning and transdisciplinary exchange that is located in the rainwater basin of the former Tempelhof Airport.

Over two weeks we identified many of the plants, learnt their names, and spent time considering how we might better listen to them and cultivate care for them through creative techniques for deep observation and connection. To initiate a process of change within the community we asked the human members of the Floating University to observe how these plants adapt to the seasons, to collect their seeds and discover much more about them. It is our hope that greater attention and care is given to the evolving ecology of the site, that collaborative co-creation between the plants and humans continues as an ongoing practice at Floating University.

This project formed part of Climate Care – A Curriculum for Urban Practice curated by Gilly Karjevsky and Rosario Talevi. The 10 day public programme explored correlations between environment, urban practice and education for climate challenges. Climate Care brings the affirmative attitude of care discourse into climate topics, tackling not only environmental issues, but caring for the entangled social, political and economic climates that surround us today.

Project partners: Laura Breidenthal and Floating University.

Laura Breidenthal recently graduated from the University of California, Davis, where she studied Environmental Science with an emphasis in ecology, biodiversity, and conservation. She is passionate about protected lands and open spaces as resources to foster environmental education and reciprocity to nature.