What happens when you have a first date with a pile of earth or a nettle? What is it like to be a tree or the earth ‘to be’ or just spend some time with a tree? Do you then become friends (again) with nature? Inspired by philosopher and Buddhist Matthijs Schouten, the Network of Entrepreneurial Educationalist (NetOO) developed interventions to foster friendship and connection with nature in just 15 minutes, based on the idea that people are more likely to care for nature if they feel a friendship with it. The approach assumes that a brief but meaningful engagement can shift people’s relationship with nature by encouraging a positive, active connection. Over 200 people participated in ‘Dating with Nature’ during the Dutch Design Week 2023 at BioArt Laboratories, where participants were asked beforehand and afterwards about their relationship with nature: if we want to leave a livable world for generations to come, we need to take the best possible care of nature. But what does it take us to do that? 

In this interactive session, NetOO shared the results of this behavioral experiment with the audience. Through presentations and hands-on activities, participants not only experienced the experiment firsthand but also took small steps toward shifting from the Anthropocene to the Symbiocene, exploring actions they can take to support this transition. While NetOO believes that regular participation in such experiments is essential for a real shift in our relationship with nature, the session’s conclusion was hopeful. A change is emerging in how we view our environment, recognizing other living beings as active agents and engaging with them toward a healthier coexistence.