When the Bible Entered the Forest: Myth, Culture, and How We See Nature
🌿 Ever wondered why some cultures and countries are more environmentally conscious than others?
Join us at The Sycamore for a lecture with Mona Shomali, whose research brings ethnoecology and environmental management to life. From Bolivia’s groundbreaking “Law of Mother Earth,” granting trees legal rights, to the influence of indigenous spiritual beliefs, Mona explores how culture, religion, and mythology shape the way humans interact with the natural world. She also delves into surprising historical twists—like why women were once banned from studying botany in parts of Europe, and how puritanical ideas influenced environmental thinking in the West.
In this lecture, Mona uncovers the deep connections between belief systems, social norms, and ecosystem management, offering a fresh perspective on why we care for—or fail to care for—the world around us. 🌎✨
❓FAQs❓
What should I expect?
7:00-7:40 --> arrival & chats
7:40-8:20 --> lecture
8:20-9:00 --> q&a and more chatting
Who's invited?
Anyone with an interest in learning new things, meeting new people, and doing fun things on weeknights! Lots of people came solo to our last event, so don't be afraid to do the same—you’ll meet some awesome people!
What about parking?
There's no parking on-site, so we recommend street parking or using public transportation.
Do I have to be 21+?
Yes! This event is hosted at a bar, so you must be 21 or older to attend and purchase drinks.
What about refunds?
You can refund your ticket up to 24 hours before the event starts. Since this is a limited-space event, we encourage you to update your RSVP if you can’t make it—this helps us keep spots open for others. NOTE - you do NOT need to email us for a refund, we will issue one within 48 hours upon changing your RSVP to "Not Going" :)
What about accessibility?
We want our lectures to be as accessible as possible. Depending on the venue, some audience members may need to stand, and our rule of thumb is that around 5% of attendees may not have seats. If you need specific seating accommodations, we recommend arriving early to secure a seat, or emailing us at [email protected] so we can make arrangements for you.
Accessibility can vary depending on the space, so please research our specific venue to learn more about things like wheelchair access and service animal policies. If you have any accessibility needs not covered here, feel free to reach out and we’ll do our best to support you.
I can't make it to this event. How do I stay updated for future events?
How do I become a speaker?
Fill out this form and we'll reach out to you if we think your lecture is a good fit! 👉 Speaker form
💸 What about our ticket structure?
Every ticket sold goes directly back into the business. However, we want to make our events accessible to everyone. If cost is a barrier, please reach out for financial assistance by emailing [email protected].
Thanks for supporting our growing mission!
*For any other questions or special accommodations, please email [email protected].