Mary Evelyn introduces a collection of creative thinkers who are drawing upon the story of the universe to re-envision and create mutually enhancing human-Earth relations.

Explore a sampling of the scholars and thoughts engaged with throughout this Conversation series, a twenty-part educational program that integrates the perspectives of the sciences and the humanities into a retelling of our 13.7 billion year story.

How did our universe emerge? Did it expand? And where did stars and galaxies come from? What is "cold dark matter” and “dark energy”?

How did galaxies form? What are the shapes of these galaxies? How did the Milky Way emerge?

How did galaxies form? What are the shapes of these galaxies? How did the Milky Way emerge?

What are stars? How are they birthed? How do they die? And what is a supernova explosion? How does this explosion give rise to the elements that form life itself.

What are stars? How are they birthed? How do they die? And what is a supernova explosion? How does this explosion give rise to the elements that form life itself.

How did our solar system come about? How did the Moon originate? What is the creative role of plate tectonics? How does geology impact Earth’s biology?

How did the first cells emerge? What characterizes them? How do we explain the patterning found in DNA and in multicellular organisms?

How did the first cells emerge? What characterizes them? How do we explain the patterning found in DNA and in multicellular organisms?

How did the brain evolve over time from single cell organisms to vertebrates? What is consciousness and responsiveness? How can we compare the adaptive brains of humans, chimpanzees, and our many evolutionary ancestors?

Discover the compelling story of Earth’s fossil record. What were the ecosystems of dinosaurs? How did humans co-evolve with other species? What are mass extinctions?

John and Melissa explore the history of early humans in relation to kinship with land and animals. Contemporary indigenous lifeways are also highlighted, especially the sustaining power of rituals that locate humans within the rhythms of Earth’s transformative systems.

John and Melissa explore the history of early humans in relation to kinship with land and animals. Contemporary indigenous lifeways are also highlighted, especially the sustaining power of rituals that locate humans within the rhythms of Earth’s transformative systems.

Cynthia describes the “big history” beyond simply human history that includes cosmic, Earth, and human evolution. She highlights eight key threshold moments of evolutionary change from universe emergence and solar systems to life forms, including humans.

Carl tells how the universe story expanded his own understanding of social and environmental justice. With a focus on urban areas, he explains how sustainable community development can be enhanced within an inclusive universe story.

Richard emphasizes the importance of organic and whole-city perspectives for creating liveable cities. He highlights the imaginative ways in which cities are being rethought and rebuilt around the planet for a flourishing future.

Dick surveys the history of economics and the mistaken assumptions of current ecological principles and practices, such as unrestrained growth. In place of our ecologically destructive practices, he endorses an ecological economics that emphasizes care, co-evoluion, and protection of the environment.

Penny leads viewers through the history and significance of permaculture. She discusses permaculture as an agricultural practice that increases biodiversity and helps us to understand our place in the story of the universe.

David and Nancy invite us to understand Navajo ways of knowing. They describe a worldview that is place-based, emphasizes kinship and connection, and intimately orients the human within an interrelated and unified cosmos.

David and Nancy invite us to understand Navajo ways of knowing. They describe a worldview that is place-based, emphasizes kinship and connection, and intimately orients the human within an interrelated and unified cosmos.

Paula Gonzalez narrates the efforts of Catholic sisters to harness solar power and other natural systems as a means of protecting the Earth community and participating in the story of the universe.

Belvie describes how teaching the story of the universe has empowered African American youth to contextualize slavery, envision healing and reconciliation, and imagine a better future through a broader sense of self and place.

Marya Grathwohl and Drew Dellinger explore poetry and activism, along with the study of ecology and ritual as shared visions of creative transformation that are inspired by the journey of the universe.

Marya Grathwohl and Drew Dellinger explore poetry and activism, along with the study of ecology and ritual as shared visions of creative transformation that are inspired by the journey of the universe.

Nancy and Sachiko highlight the role of myth, metaphor, and art in broadening and deepening our understanding of human identity within a cosmological context.

Nancy and Sachiko highlight the role of myth, metaphor, and art in broadening and deepening our understanding of human identity within a cosmological context.

Tom and Bindu describe how learning the universe story has allowed high school and college students to experience an expanded sense of self and to transform despair into a sense of hope and empowerment.

Tom and Bindu describe how learning the universe story has allowed high school and college students to experience an expanded sense of self and to transform despair into a sense of hope and empowerment.