A Rare Planet: A Workshop and a Talk About Earth
This unique session combines the Planetary Boundaries Fresco - a collaborative, science-based workshop - with a talk by an astronomer on what makes Earth so unusual in the known universe. Organized by Ichigo Bloom, at Impact HUB Tokyo.
🌏 The Planetary Boundaries Fresco
Working in small groups with a set of illustrated cards, participants map the nine Earth system processes that define the conditions for life on our planet, from climate and biodiversity to freshwater cycles and ocean chemistry. The goal is to build a shared, systemic understanding of what keeps the Earth habitable, and where human activity is pushing past its limits.
The workshop was developed by 1er degré, a French non-profit, based on research from the Stockholm Resilience Centre. It has been run with organizations around the world, including the European Space Agency.
Facilitators: Mahi Patki and Stéfan Le Dû (Ichigo Bloom)
🌌 Talk: Is Earth Special? Rare Earth in the Known Universe (working title)
Following the workshop, astronomer Thilina Heenatigala will share what planetary science and astrobiology tell us about just how unusual our planet is, and what that means for how we think about it.
Thilina is Director of Science Communication and Assistant Professor at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) in Tokyo, and a Research Affiliate at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. He has spent over two decades working at the intersection of science, education, and public engagement, with roles at Leiden University, the Europlanet network, and organizations dedicated to bringing astronomy to underserved communities worldwide.
⏲️ Schedule
11:30: Doors open - Lunch at Communita Café (optional)
12:30-15:30: Planetary Boundaries Fresco Workshop
15:30-16:15: Astronomy Talk with Q&A
16:15-17:00: Networking for those who'd like to stay
🎟️ Participation
Free to attend. We ask that you only register if you can commit to coming: the workshop is designed around a specific group size and every seat counts.
At the venue: we ask all participants to order at least one drink from Communita Café, which is kindly hosting this event at no charge.
An optional tip for the facilitators and speaker is available when you register.