The Earth's Aliveness

a journey to our Planet's microbiome

June 22, 2025 at the Volkshaus, Zurich

9.15 – 16.30

Earth is a pulsating organism whose microbiome forms the basis of all life. Bacteria, fungi and billions of other single-celled organisms, algae and viruses are our invisible cohabitants, without whom there would be no life on earth. Our aliveness arises from our relationship with the vitality of the earth, we are one.

Join us in acknowledging how strongly we are connected to these single-celled organisms and how much they influence us and we them in the question of the aliveness of the earth. Together we will embark on a journey to honour, nourish and increase the beauty and diversity of our microbiome.

Dive into the magic of the in-between spaces with us

With inputs, dialogue rounds and interactive explorations from:

Helmy Abouleish

SEKEM promotes sustainable development in ecology, economy, societal and cultural life, consciously integrating the interplay of microorganisms into agriculture. Founded in 1977 by the Abouleish family and fellow campaigners, the SEKEM project has transformed parts of the Egyptian desert into a thriving Garden of Eden and was awarded the Right Livelihood Award (‘Alternative Nobel Prize’) under the leadership of Helmy Abouleish.

Gabriele Berg

Head of the Institute of Biotechnology at Graz University of Technology, Gabriele Berg has been researching the microbiome for 30 years. She has conducted many studies about the effects of agriculture on the plant and soil microbiome including one based at the SEKEM initiative looking at its effects on microbial communities in desert soil.

Katharina Serafimova

Social entrepreneur and managing director of Lebendiger Bodensee, an initiative promoting healthy soils, clean water, regional food systems, and vibrant rural communities. She currently leads a research and practice project accompanying farmers around Lake Constance in regenerating soil microbiomes. Katharina is also a co-founder of Shareitt, a platform that fosters a culture of sharing and care within communities. Her professional journey spans banking, corporate sustainability, NGOs, and university teaching.

Ivo Hutzli

As a permaculture-designer, engineer and cultural manager at Permakultur Leben, Ivo uses his skills and knowledge for regenerative projects. His work is about shaping relationships between living beings, closing cycles, transformation, diversity, synergies, co-creativity, sufficiency, resilience and networking. He is active with the Triple Bottom Line© Association and Kinder in der Permakultur - Schweiz.

and Tibetan Music from:

Dechen Shak-Dagsay and Helge Van Dyk

Image courtesy of VANDYKMUSIC

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