Abstract submission for the Biophilia Summit 2025 is now closed
🌿 Thank you to everyone who submitted their proposals — we’re truly inspired by the depth, creativity, and commitment to biophilic and regenerative design.
Our jury is now reviewing all abstracts, and notifications of acceptance will be sent by 28 July.
Stay tuned for updates — we can’t wait to share this year’s incredible line-up of speakers and sessions with you!
For more information on the Summit, see our event announcement.
Living Future Europe is excited to announce the call for proposals for our third Biophilia Summit, taking place online, 25 September 2025.
“Reconnecting with nature will save our society.” – The Biophilic Society
The Biophilia Summit is a first of its kind cutting-edge one-day event gathering biophilic lovers from all over Europe and beyond, focused on bringing together the latest research, disciplines and best practices around biophilic topics in the fields of architecture, fashion, art, psychology, leadership and many others. Learning from key players and biophilic champions, the summit will create conversations and advance awareness and practice.
Are you an advocate for biophilia in architecture, design, art, biology, photography, psychology or any of the areas mentioned below?
Proposals are due Friday, 11 July 2025.
The Biophilia Summit
- When: 25 September 2025 [timing will enable presentations worldwide]
- Where: online
- Target group: biophilic lovers, architects, designers, psychologists, educators, artists, researchers, consultants, manufacturers, policy makers.
- Registrations: opening on 26 May 2025
- Language: English
- Organisation: The Biophilic Society [a Living Future Europe initiative]
- Further information: biophilicsociety@living-future.eu
Timeline
| May 26 | Call for speakers launch |
| (Friday) July 11 | Deadline for proposals – by 11:59 pm (CEST) |
| July 14-28 | Proposals in review by the Biophilia Summit Committee |
| July 28 | Proposal acceptance* and rejection notifications sent |
| July 30 | Confirmation of attendance following acceptance notice |
| July 31 | Biophilia Summit 2025 Registration opens |
| August 20 | Early Bird registration deadline |
| September 11 | Speakers final presentation submission |
| September 25 | Biophilia Summit 2025 |
(*) A detailed timeline with additional deadline information will be issued at the time of speaker acceptance.
Proposal Topics
Apply by submitting your abstract under one of the biophilic areas below. Deadline: July 11th 2025.
Urban architecture and biophilic gardens: enhancing nature connectedness. Urban farming and agriculture, and the returning trend to cultivate within cities in order to reconnect with nature, recover awareness of life cycles and reducing the impact of producing and delivering food through industrial processes from afar.
Acknowledging and learning from indigenous peoples and place stewardship. The biophilia hypothesis is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. The term biophilia was used by Erich Fromm which in 1973 described biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.” Anecdotal and qualitative evidence suggests that humans are innately attracted to nature.
Biophilic design shakes up the conceptual process by asking new questions, provokes new reflections on the potential of the built environment and invites the project team to explore the advantages of a design aimed at the connection between human being and nature. Including interior design and social housing. The Living Building Challenge framework could be a source of inspiration.
Biophilia in art is in crafting art that enhances the reconnection with nature and mental health and well-being. By summoning up the senses and sense experience, and becoming present in and with nature, a pause moment is created, which develops into a more discerning emotional awareness of our wellbeing and that of the ecological world we impact.
The biophilic city is an ecosystem of nature connectedness, fully embrace a regenerative biophilia that allows all life to thrive. We are inviting narratives from cities that through policy, implementation or practice are becoming biophilic.
Biophilia and Biophilic Design is not just for the finished building in use, but can provide a far better and positive well being environment for those working on sites during the construction phase.
A biophilic approach is important not only for adults but also for children and teenagers whose physical and mental growth are influenced by the environment around them. Nature is a great teacher, we are calling for educational practices connected to biophilia, promoting wellness, cultural richness, and equity. We are inviting narratives from across the education spectrum.
Biophilic design in fashion is in creating clothing and accessories that enhance the wearer’s well-being. Connecting them with the natural world, using materials and production methods that are environmentally robust. Increasingly popular as consumers become more aware of the impact of fashion on the natural world and seek more sustainable and healthy clothing options.
AI-generated images of an imagined biophilic future. If we cannot imagine a better future and what that feels and looks like, we will have a lower chance of getting there. We are inviting your images for a future biophilic place. A co-created future that works for all of life. This can be through AI or other art media, along with your written prompt/description of the imagined future.
The typical organizational environment is hugely disconnected from the natural world and dysfunctional. New learning and skills are required for leaders and executives to achieve key targets. Agile management, awareness, sustainability, empathy, authenticity, openness, are all approaches that we can learn from nature. We are inviting leadership and management practices that are rooted in learning from and with nature.
Showing the connection with Nature’s intelligence, creating images and videos that enhance well-being through nature images. Photos and videos might be a landscape, a detailed view, or something completely different. Elements and attributes from Stephen R. Kellert’s work could be a source of inspiration.
Products whose primary use does not further disconnect people from nature, with the potential to transform people’s relationship to the natural world or to others in their community through the manufacturing process, informed by the natural world and biomimicry. The Living Product Challenge framework could be a source of inspiration.
Pushing biophilic thinking. Latest research around biophilia, biophilic design and health and wellbeing benefits: scientific articles, publications, findings, frameworks, tools.
Showcasing, inspiring, informative, and educational books around the “reconnection to nature” and “love for nature”. Including novels, essays, handbooks, guidelines, booklets. We are inviting the story and narrative of your own work, or of that which has inspired, even transformed your biophilic mindset.
Application documents
To submit your proposal, you will be required to include:
- short bio (less than 1.500 characters, including spaces)
- headshot photo
- proposal’s title and abstract (less than 2.000 characters, including spaces)
- attachments (if any)
- your motivation to be part of the Biophilia Summit 2025
Application requirements and evaluation
Successful applications will
- Offer a deep understanding of timely and significant content, including biophilia implementation case studies, deep dives, and information that can create value and support among the audience.
- Provide access to sources, data and resources for information and specifications.
- Present replicable and scalable ideas for a biophilic approach implementation and provide clear takeaways that attendees can implement in their work after the event.
- Demonstrate qualified and engaging presenters with topic-relevant experience, as evidenced through presenter bios, event speaking experience, and video presentations, whenever available.
- Include clear, relevant learning objectives and challenging content for an advanced audience.
- Provide thought leading and creative insights into potential development of biophilic design.
Selected speakers will receive
- excellent visibility in all communication materials
- Speakers are welcome to attend the entire Summit
The Jury
We are introducing an international jury for the Biophilia Summit 2025, with each continent represented by a leading voice in biophilia-related fields:

Martin Brown, Vice President, Living Future Europe, Representing Europe
Drawing on a life of outdoor exploration, a career in the built environment and a passion for a regenerative future, as a sustainability provocateur, Martin supports, counsels, nurtures and prompts clients, designers, contractors, academic & industry groups on regenerative journeys and discoveries. From a blend of imperatives, Martin presents a core argument that sustainability as we approach it today, in simply lessening our impacts, will fall far short in arresting the climate, ecological and health emergencies we currently find ourselves in.

Wangui Mwangi IDr, Founder of Green Biophilic Living, Africa’s Biophilia Founding Chair, Representing Africa
A TEDx Speaker, award-winning biophilic design advocate, Interior Designer, a 2025 Rewild Champion, founder of Green Biophilis Living and certified green building consultant (EDGE, IFC), dedicated to restoring Africa’s deep connection with nature through regenerative, culture-centred design. Her work spans wellness real estate, sustainable communities, and biophilic master planning, promoting zero-VOC materials, slowlife wellness principles, and community-led regenerative projects. Wangui’s mission is to build an African Biophilia Empire that preserves traditional knowledge, inspires modern design rooted in nature, and supports thriving local ecosystems.

Laura Hamilton-O’Hara, Chief Executive Officer, Living Future Institute of Australia, Representing Oceania
Laura has a Master’s Degree in Social Ecology and two decades of industry experience working in conservation, sustainability and social justice in Australia and South Africa. A through line for Laura in all her work is sustainability leadership and leverage points in systems. She was recognised for this as one of the 50 Women in Global Sustainability Leadership by Sustainability X Magazine in 2022. After several years in strategic roles in Sydney at Taronga Zoo, Macquarie University and the Centre for Sustainability Leadership, Laura is currently the CEO of the Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA). LFIA harnesses the built environment as a powerful vehicle to create a world that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.

Natali Ghawi, Holistic Architect, Urban Planner, and Regenerative Wellbeing Coach and Consultant, Representing Asia
Natali designs inner and outer landscapes that nurture the well-being of all life, weaving together systems thinking and embodied practices to catalyse regenerative and resilient futures. As the founder of NABAD Consulting, Natali works across disciplines to support transformational change at the personal, spatial, and planetary levels. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto, UCLA, Reykjavik University, and Harvard University, and is accredited as a WELL AP, Living Future Accredited (LFA) professional, Fitwel Ambassador, EDGE Expert, and Envision Sustainability Professional (SP).

Erin Rovalo, Ph.D, Vice President – Community, Living Future (ILFI), Representing North America
Erin Rovalo is Vice President of Community at the International Living Future Institute, where she leads strategy across education, events, publishing, and network engagement. A long-time advocate for regenerative and nature-connected design, Erin brings over two decades of leadership in sustainable design, biomimicry, and design education. She holds a Ph.D. in Design Practice from Loughborough University and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board for The Biomimicry Institute. Erin is also a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. LFA, Certified Biomimicry Professional.
The juror representing South America will be announced soon.
For more information on the Summit, see our event announcement. We are looking forward to seeing you there!