Smart Talks. Cold Drinks.

Presenting THINK & DRINK – where the curious gather. This ongoing lecture series delivers a wide array of topics that generate fresh perspectives, ideas, and discussion. These community-driven events are powered by a collaboration between UMKC, Linda Hall Library, The Third Place Historian, and Casual Animal Brewing Company. 

Your RSVP is appreciated to help us preset the room and accommodate as many seats as possible for interested attendees. You will also receive at least 1 reminder email about the event when you RSVP.

FEBRUARY 19:

The Wild Is Calling — And You’ve Got the Tool to AnsweR

speaker:

Nadina Galle, Ecological Engineer, National Geographic Explorer and Author of THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES

What if the wild isn’t something you travel to—but something you can turn back on where you live? In this talk, I’ll share stories from cities around the world where people are using simple tools—like citizen science apps, listening experiences, and even “talking trees”—to reconnect with nature in everyday life. The heart of the talk is a simple ladder: connection to place, connection to species, and connection to purpose. Because once you start noticing the nature around you, you start caring—and once you care, you start acting.

I’ll show how a tiny shift in attention—learning the name of one local tree, bird, or insect—can shift your relationship with your neighbourhood from “nature is out there” to “nature is here.” That’s a connection to species, and it often sparks a connection to purpose through community science and stewardship. I’ll also share how ordinary people are documenting urban biodiversity with their phones, and why those observations can inform real conservation decisions, including the discovery of species in places where they were previously unknown to exist.

Speaker Bio: Dr. Nadina Galle is a Dutch-Canadian ecological engineer, National Geographic Explorer, and bestselling author of The Nature of Our Cities. She is the founder of the Internet of Nature®—a global movement exploring how technology can help people reconnect with nearby nature and build healthier, more resilient communities. Her work sits at the intersection of ecology, cities, and innovation, and has been featured by Bloomberg, NPR, CNBC, and the New York Post. Through her podcast, field projects, and storytelling, Nadina brings audiences into the future of urban life—where the wild still has a place, even in the most built-up spaces.