#  Thinking with Plants and Fungi Conference, May 2025 

 



##  Thinking with Plants and Fungi Conference, May 2025 

 [ Click here to watch conference recordings arrow\_circle\_right ](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_9feVneSp3OPGxeXd975vzQUr6SPg49&si=wFMtd6MHQru2k2DK) 

 

       ![A view of green, misty tree leaves and branches as seen from the forest floor](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2024-11/green-misty-woods-MayaKarkalicheva.jpg?itok=fB7ybyhO) 

 

 



 

 



 

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## *Thinking with Plants and Fungi Conference*

####  *An Interdisciplinary Exploration into the Mind of Nature*   
*May 15-17, 2025*   
*Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA* 

 ![Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative logo: flowers and a mushroom](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/hds_cswr/files/twpf-logo-705px.png)

 

  
Hosted by the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School from May 15–17, 2025, this three-day conference brought together scholars, scientists, artists, and practitioners to explore the evolving field of plant and fungal studies. With more than 350 in-person attendees and over 2,000 livestream viewers, the event featured keynote presentations by Monica Gagliano, Merlin Sheldrake, Banu Subramaniam, Jessica J. Lee, Michael Marder, Emanuele Coccia, Ned Friedman, and Giuliana Furci. The conference invited participants to consider how plants and fungi challenge dominant models of intelligence, agency, and interdependence—and how these life forms might inspire new ways of thinking, relating, and responding in a time of ecological crisis.

 View videos and transcripts from *Thinking with Plants and Fungi* on the [CSWR YouTube page](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_9feVneSp3OPGxeXd975vzQUr6SPg49). Read a summary of the conference on the [CSWR blog](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/06/02/thinking-plants-and-fungi-celebrating-voices-more-human-world). A forthcoming anthology will be published open-access in 2026.



 

  

  

##  Explore the Conference Proceedings 

 



 [ Read a conference recap arrow\_circle\_right ](https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2025/06/02/thinking-plants-and-fungi-celebrating-voices-more-human-world) [ Watch recordings of the May Conference arrow\_circle\_right ](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX_9feVneSp3OPGxeXd975vzQUr6SPg49&si=wFMtd6MHQru2k2DK) 

 

 

 

 

     ![Monica Gagliano spritzes audience with botanical essence](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2025-06/250515PlantsFungi55.jpg?itok=D4ENusvA) 

 



 

  

 

     ![Emanuele Coccia and Charles Stang in conversation](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-06/25.jpg?itok=s8Oi8WAz) 

 



 

  

 

     ![Melissa Bartholomew investigates a tree at Arnold Arboretum](/sites/g/files/omnuum4346/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2025-06/250515PlantsFungi34.jpg?itok=sDsIE2Nu) 

 



 

  

 

 

 

 

 [### Speakers

 ](/research-programming/thinking-plants-fungi/2025-conference/speakers) 

 

 [### Panels

 ](/research-programming/thinking-plants-fungi/2025-conference/panels) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

### Partners and Funders 

The conference wasgenerously funded by grant support from the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, with additional support provided by Wonderstruck and the Constellation Project. Partners included the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

*Banner image © Maya Karkalicheva.*