Bioneers: The Heart of Nature Drives Us

Cory Doctorow then addressed the issue of Enshittification as a solo keynote, and later in a dialogue with Zephyr Teachout and Wendy Liu.

From monopolies and mediocrity to the revival of democracy, the panel discussed how a handful of powerful tech companies have come to dominate the internet and media landscape, leading to a steady decline in quality, user experience, and even the health of democracy. Doctorow described this pattern: platforms start by serving users well, then gradually degrade as they prioritize profit, advertisers, and shareholders over people.

The conversation explored how this dynamic is not accidental but the result of policy choices, monopoly power, and a lack of regulation that allow companies to lock users in and extract more value over time. Teachout emphasized the political and legal dimension—arguing that corporate concentration erodes democracy itself, and that antitrust laws and structural reforms are essential to restore balance and accountability. rather than exploit them.

The overall message was that the current trajectory of the internet is reversible—but only through collective awareness, policy change, and a renewed commitment to building systems that prioritize people over profit. The ultimate question becomes: How can we ensure that technology serves human needs rather than exploits them?

Above, Enshittification panel

On the panel focused on our basic human right to drinkable water in the United States, Heather Cooley moderated a discussion with Khalid Osman, Monica Lewis-Patrick, and Jenny Rempel. When I have brought this up to others, their main response was, “You mean drinkable water in the world?” It didn’t occur to them that there could be people in the States without access to safe drinking water; however, we learned that more than two million people live without plumbing or clean water.

Largely, this situation falls upon people of color and other marginalized groups. Khalid deals with people whose taps produce murky water, noting that “We can’t see all the contaminants.” He also submitted that policy decisions do not involve community input. Of the 55,000 community water systems, roughly 50% are out of compliance or outdated, and that number has risen by about 40% over the last decade, which is astonishing.

Above, the panel on safe water as a basic human right

Lewis-Patrick, who is the CEO of We the People of Detroit, a grassroots organization focused on civil rights, water equity, and community empowerment, says that “the U.S. struggles to even admit water is even a basic right.” (Two states, California and Virginia, have passed laws on human rights to water). Her organization in the greater Detroit area has been implementing systems to address issues that have had a huge negative impact, such as flooding, while also reminding us that climate change has introduced new contaminants. 

Other informative sessions from Friday included Restoring the Ecology of Health in the Anthropocene’s “Polycrisis,” Global and Indigenous Women-Led Movements for Climate Justice with Osprey Orielle Lake, Zainab Salbi and Dilafruz Khonikboyeva, and Where Spirit and Science Meet the Sea with Alexis Bunten, Raynell Morris, Louise Brady and Shane Weeks. There was also a fascinating experiential session on our “Wild Center” with Amber Gray.

On Saturday, we saw a performance by The Gathering Tree, followed by an Indigenous Forum: Women at the Center and later, they held a session on Biodiversity, Social Diversity and the Future of Nature in Cities. The panel on Green Chemistry Innovation and Education, featuring John Warner and Amy Cannon, focused on reimagining chemistry as a force for sustainability rather than harm.

A central idea was that many environmental and health crises are not inevitable—they result from how chemistry has traditionally been practiced—and that by redesigning materials and processes from the start, it’s possible to eliminate toxicity and waste altogether. Warner emphasized innovation at the molecular level, showing how chemistry can be inspired by nature to create safer, more efficient systems, while Cannon highlighted the importance of transforming education so that future scientists are trained to think this way from the beginning rather than as an afterthought.

A major theme of the discussion was systems change through education, with green chemistry serving as a pathway toward a healthier, more regenerative future in which science is aligned with the principles of life rather than working against them.

I also love that they weave in mixers and networking around passions and interests, including ones for artists and art lovers; health and wellness practitioners; activists and organizers; food systems professionals and advocates; nature-based solutions and others. We participated in the health and wellness practitioners session led by Christine Imfeld and Saleena Gupte from CIIS. We formed a circle and learned about each other’s needs and insights through collective sharing and break-out groups.

One other thing to note is that each evening there was an opportunity to watch thought-provoking and game-changing independent films, including Yanuni, Sequoias of the Seas, Jane Fonda’s Gaslit (which is currently making its way through the film festival circuit), Tiger, Remaining Native and Free Leonard Peltier. I was truly moved by Farming While Black, a powerful documentary that explores the history, resilience, and resurgence of Black farmers in the United States.

Above, Leah Penniman introduces the film.

The film looks at how Black farmers were systematically dispossessed of land over generations through discrimination, yet are now reclaiming agriculture as a source of cultural identity, healing, and empowerment. It frames farming as a deeply spiritual and ancestral connection to land, food, and community—while also addressing modern issues such as food justice, climate change, and access to healthy food. A central voice to the film is the co-founder of Soul Fire Farm in upstate New York, Leah Penniman and her family. It also highlights activists and farmers like Karen Washington in the Bronx and Blain Snipstal in Maryland, both of whom are working to rebuild Black agricultural traditions and create equitable food systems. 

A film that blends history with hope, it acknowledges the painful legacy of land loss and systemic racism, while uplifting a new generation of farmers who are reclaiming land, reviving Afro-indigenous farming practices, and building community-based solutions.

I also had an opportunity to chat with ArtJoy founder Toni Mikulka-Chang (below) about her puppetry display.

Her organization creates immersive, participatory art experiences that invite people to make, build, and imagine together. From intimate studio workshops in silk painting, pottery, and hands-on craft to monumental public spectacles featuring giant puppets, parades, and large-scale installations, it’s a wondrous experience. Toni’s belief is that “Art isn’t something you only observe—it is something you enter, touch, and help create.” Below, you can get an idea of some of what she brought to life at Bioneers this year.

Lastly, since I’m in the middle of reading Michael Pollan’s latest book A World Appears, and also teach about consciousness, I had to attend his keynote and fireside chat with Dacher Keltner. For the book, he interviewed various academics, neuroscientists, plant biologists, and thinkers across fields to understand how awareness arises and what it really is. Given his history of writing about plants, he explores questions such as whether plants might possess a form of awareness and places them in a category called Sentience (the book has a chapter with the same name).

Above, Michael Pollan gives his keynote

While Michael Pollan thoughtfully challenged the prevailing view that the brain alone produces consciousness and acknowledged that it may not be fully explained by current scientific models, I found myself wishing the conversation had gone a step further. In particular, when questions arose around collective consciousness and non-locality, the response seemed to frame these ideas more as ideological than as areas worthy of deeper exploration.

I remain a strong fan of Pollan’s work and recognize the important role he plays in bringing complex topics to mainstream audiences. At the same time, his wide reach presents an opportunity to open the door even further—especially to conversations that invite a more expansive inquiry into consciousness. There is growing value in examining not only what science can currently measure, but also the role of direct experience, perception, and emotion in shaping our understanding of reality.

He brought up the groundbreaking work of Michael Levin and the latest research on bioelectricity, suggesting that science isn’t the only way of knowing things. Art is another way, allowing us to mind-meld and move into another reality.

He ended the discussion with great advice about living more intentionally, reconnecting with ourselves, and better understanding our place in a larger web of life. He suggested that next time you’re in line to order a coffee, put your phone away and be present with what is emerging around you. In other words, pay attention to how much phone scrolling you’re doing in those idle moments.

Three powerful indigenous women closed the space: Michelle Schenandoah, founder of Rematriation, which is dedicated to uplifting Indigenous women’s voices and restoring matrilineal wisdom, Katsi Cook, a Wolf Clan member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, whose work bridges science, policy, and traditional knowledge, including groundbreaking research on environmental toxins and their impact on maternal and community health, and Louise Herne, a Bear Clan Mother of the Mohawk Nation, who works to revitalize Indigenous rites, governance systems, and teachings, especially cultural practices rooted in Haudenosaunee philosophy.