In his laudatio on the occasion of the 6th BBVA Foundation Biophilia Award, ecologist Rodolfo Dirzo emphasizes the importance of integrating science with the humanities to address the contemporary environmental crisis. Reflecting on the evolutionary history of the planet and the current biodiversity loss driven by human activity, Dirzo highlights that conservation is not only a scientific or technological issue, but also a cultural, historical, and ethical one. In his remarks, he underscores the contribution of Ursula Heise as a pioneer in the environmental humanities, a field that connects scientific data with cultural narratives capable of generating awareness and social mobilization. For Dirzo, Heise’s humanistic perspective is essential for effectively communicating the risks of climate change and biodiversity loss, and for building global alliances to preserve a viable planet for fu
In his laudatio on the occasion of the 6th BBVA Foundation Biophilia Award, ecologist Rodolfo Dirzo emphasizes the importance of integrating science with the humanities to address the contemporary environmental crisis. Reflecting on the evolutionary history of the planet and the current biodiversity loss driven by human activity, Dirzo highlights that conservation is not only a scientific or technological issue, but also a cultural, historical, and ethical one. In his remarks, he underscores the contribution of Ursula Heise as a pioneer in the environmental humanities, a field that connects scientific data with cultural narratives capable of generating awareness and social mobilization. For Dirzo, Heise’s humanistic perspective is essential for effectively communicating the risks of climate change and biodiversity loss, and for building global alliances to preserve a viable planet for future generations.
The 6th BBVA Foundation Biophilia Award recognizes Ursula Heise’s career for her innovative contributions to the environmental humanities and her analysis of the cultural dimensions of the global ecological crisis. Her work has explored how different cultural traditions interpret nature and how these perspectives influence societal responses to challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.
