Everything is connected. So what now? On mushrooms, nature, and culture—and the question of how we act together.

The Berlin Botanical Garden, the German Cultural Council, Matthes & Seitz Berlin and rbb Inforadio invite you to an evening that begins with a fascinating exploration of the world of fungi and then turns its attention to broader social and political issues.

To kick things off, Benjamin Haag – a Germanist, mushroom expert and author of the mushroom atlas *Samtfuß, Holzstielchen und Zottelmähne* – will be joined by René Jarling, the mushroom curator at the Berlin Botanical Garden. From literary and scientific perspectives, they will explore the astonishing world of fungi, their stories, ways of life and diverse connections to people and the environment.

In the second part, the question of connections gives way to a question of possibilities: the climate crisis, species loss and social transformation call for new ways of thinking and collaborating. At the same time, the current popularity of nature-related themes in literature, art and culture demonstrates just how great the interest is in new approaches to nature. How can nature and cultural institutions capitalise on this interest, combine their strengths and jointly shape social and ecological change?

This will be discussed by Luiza Bengtsson (Berlin Botanical Garden), Andreas Rötzer (Matthes & Seitz Berlin), Judith Schalansky (author and artist) and Olaf Zimmermann (German Cultural Council). The audience is warmly invited to contribute their thoughts and join in the discussion.

• Moderator: Harald Asel, rbb Inforadio
• Free admission, booking required

Please note: Keep your event ticket to enjoy one-off reduced admission to the Berlin Botanical Garden in October.

IN GERMAN