Ep. 8 - Is a Blade of Grass Enough? (with Nadina Galle)

Before children, a city is something you move through. After children, it's something you start to see. Ecological engineer Nadina Galle explores how parenthood reshapes our relationship with nature—and why even a blade of grass can begin to matter.

Shownotes: 

• Nadina's book The Nature of Our Citiesexplores how technology – from AI to sensors and satellite imagery – can help us better understand, protect and reconnect with urban nature.
• As a National Geographic Explorer Nadina works at the intersection of ecology, cities and technology.
• The Internet of Nature is Nadina's concept for using emerging technologies to map, monitor, manage and reconnect people with urban nature.
• The Emerald Ash Borer natural experiment is one of the strongest pieces of evidence discussed in the episode: The widespread loss of ash trees across North America and its measurable impact on human mortality.
• Nadina discusses BioBlitzes – community events where people work together to identify as many plants and animals as possible in a given area. These citizen science projects help monitor biodiversity while encouraging people to reconnect with the nature around them, an approach that sits at the heart of Nadina's Internet of Nature framework.
• Nadina discusses the Philadelphia LandCare Program, an initiative that transforms vacant lots into simple green spaces by removing debris and planting grass. A series of studies found that these low-cost interventions were associated with reductions in gun violence, improvements in mental health and stronger neighbourhood cohesion, illustrating how nature can reshape not only environments, but communities.
• The Belgian study on green space and children's IQ is research showing that children growing up in greener neighbourhoods scored higher on measures of cognitive development, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors.
• Forest bathing for postpartum mothers is the pilot programme discussed by Nadina, exploring how guided nature experiences may improve maternal wellbeing, sleep and parent–infant bonding.
• This podcast is part of the Early Childhood Matters platform by the Van Leer Foundation.

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