Here you will find a space to continue the reflection, delve deeper into the topics discussed, and immerse yourself in the world that inspires and supports the Institute’s approach.
Events – To experience
Les anthroposcènes festival
The evolution of life on Earth is primarily based on cooperation between organisms, which has enabled the achievement of high levels of complexity and interdependence at all scales, from mitochondria within our cells to underground networks between plants. This festival invites you to explore these invisible connections that unite all living beings by offering performances, lectures, and workshops to better understand and reconnect with this relational richness often overlooked by humans.
Publications – To read
“Is the Sun Conscious?” by Patrice Van Eersel, Trédaniel Editions, 2025
This book offers an in-depth exploration of consciousness through an inquiry involving scientists, philosophers, and witnesses of extraordinary phenomena. The author challenges the traditional concept of consciousness, often limited to brain activity, and explores the possibility that consciousness is a fundamental property of the universe, present at all levels of reality. Drawing on theories such as panpsychism, which posits that consciousness is inherent to all matter, Van Eersel examines whether non-living entities, like the Sun, could be conscious.
Podcasts/Radio – To listen
Fil Bleu Guest: Ernst Zürcher, Forest Engineer and Professor Emeritus
In this episode of RTS’s Le fil bleu podcast, Théo Chavaillaz speaks with Ernst Zürcher, forest engineer and doctor of wood sciences, in the Planta Park in Sion. Together, they explore our deep connection with the forest through the lenses of science, spirituality, and ecology. With passion, Zürcher advocates for a reconnection with the living world and a better understanding of forest ecosystems, highlighting the essential role of knowledge transmission and public awareness.
Publications – To read
“Trees, Between the Visible and the Invisible” by Ernst Zürcher, Actes Sud Editions, 2016
In this illustrated and rigorous essay, Ernst Zürcher explores trees from two complementary perspectives — their material, visible dimension, informed by recent scientific discoveries, and their deeper, invisible dimension, rooted in traditions, myths, and the subtle relationships they maintain with humans. By confronting scientific knowledge with ancestral beliefs, he pays tribute to their complexity and makes a compelling case for their protection, urging us to reconsider our relationship with nature in the face of ecological threats.
Publications – To read
“The Civilization of the Goldfish: A Brief Treatise on the Attention Market” by Bruno Patino, Éditions Grasset, 2019
In The Civilization of the Goldfish, Bruno Patino explores the harmful effects of digital technology and social media on our attention span and perception of time. Through a sharp and insightful analysis, he reveals how platforms exploit the mechanisms of the attention economy to constantly capture our gaze, reducing our ability to concentrate to that of a goldfish—approximately eight seconds. The author warns of the social, cultural, and psychological consequences of this constant capture, while calling for a reclaiming of our mental freedom in the face of the addictive logic of screens.