Exkursion to Lynn Harles at the Berlin Botanical Garden

On Tuesday afternoon, we met with Lynn Harles at the Berlin Botanical Garden.
She is a design researcher working at the intersection of design and the natural sciences.
Her work explores the role of design within the context of the Anthropocene, questioning how design can be applied in a more responsible and reflective way in the future. During the tour of the garden, Lynn Harles shared her enthusiasm for scientific interconnections. Using various examples, she explained the concept of the Anthropocenic worldview, pointing out that our human-centered understanding of nature and science needs to be critically re-evaluated. A rapid shift in perspective is essential in order to develop sustainable and future-oriented solutions. Another focus of the tour was the history of the botanical garden itself. Lynn Harles described how its function has changed over time. She highlighted the role of such gardens in a colonial context, where botanical knowledge and resources were systematically appropriated from other regions. She also spoke about the scientific importance of plant research and collection, as well as the cultivation of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes. One of the most striking parts of the tour was the discussion around the adaptability of plants. Despite being rooted in place, plants have evolved a wide range of strategies to cope with environmental conditions. Using cacti as an example, she explained their growth structure, the function of their spines, and their defense mechanisms against herbivores. Plants are highly complex organisms, equipped with various mechanisms for communication and responsiveness to external stimuli. Some plants can even store environmental signals and adjust their future reactions accordingly. Others use chemical messengers or ultrasonic waves to communicate and warn each other about potential threats. To conclude the visit, Lynn Harles posed a fundamental question, one we as designers should ask ourselves regularly: What can we learn from nature, and what should we give back in return?