Written by: Nandni Shah, UHOH

‘Are you ready to explore NBS in your field?’

Learn in Nature Lab in Germany hosted its first NBS101 session!

To mark the onset of the summer semester, ᴇNᴀBʟS’ German Living Lab, the Learn in Nature Lab (LNL), hosted its very first event as a part of the NBS101 series on 14 April 2025.

The aim of the NBS101 series is to facilitate an engaging discussion between scientific researchers and the audience, guided but not strictly controlled. A presentation—whether on research findings or scientific concepts related to Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)—is followed by an open discussion, fostering deeper understanding and knowledge sharing. NBS101 sessions also feature moderated discussions on open topics and film screenings. They are open for all, e.g. students, teachers, community members, practitioners and anyone who is motivated to join. This interactive format ensures a dynamic exchange of ideas, fosters a continuous feedback loop, and promotes a two-way flow of knowledge between researchers and participants, making every session a collaborative learning experience.

This NBS101 session was designed to introduce the core principles of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and spark a collaborative discussion on how biodiversity and NBS can be meaningfully integrated into diverse academic fields—including engineering, business, health sciences, social sciences, and so on. Practical approaches to embedding NBS into higher education curricula, research, and professional practice were explored through interactive dialogue and group activities.

Session highlights

The session began with an overview of the ᴇNᴀBʟS project and the activities of the Learn in Nature Lab. A quick ice breaker between the participants was followed by a short introductory presentation on what Nature-Based Solutions are, their significance, and how they can be applied beyond environmental sciences.

Figure 1: LNL team with the session participants (Photo taken by Nandni Shah, UHOH)

LEARNING BY PLAYING

A light and fun interactive group activity was planned for the participants to get the NBS conversation going. The NBS101 Bingo was the heart of the session’s interactivity. Participants explored the principles and applicability of not just NBS but various connected concepts like biodiversity as well in a unique and engaging format.

How It Worked:

• Participants engaged in a Bingo-style game where they interacted with peers to explore connections between NBS concepts and their own life experiences and fields of work or study (Figure 2). They earned squares by having meaningful conversations and noting key insights from others. Unsurprisingly, there were several winners!
• The activity served as a valuable knowledge exchange tool, encouraging peer-to-peer learning and opening up new perspectives (Figure 3). It allowed individuals to reflect on how NBS could intersect with various disciplines, pushing their ideas beyond conventional expectations of these concepts, creating an opportunity for them to recognise barriers and misconceptions around these topics.

Figure 2: NBS101 Bingo in action! (Photos taken by Nandni Shah, UHOH)

Figure 3: Collective Reflection (Photo taken by Nandni Shah, UHOH)

Key Benefits Observed:

• Stimulated cross-disciplinary dialogue– The event hosted participants from varying backgrounds like environmental protection, food sciences, landscape ecology, agricultural sciences, etc.
• Encouraged critical thinking and creativity
• Broke down misconceptions about NBS being limited to certain fields- Participants in the final discussion could identify misconceptions and barriers, exploring potential disciplinary collaborations.
• Helped identify opportunities to integrate NBS in unexpected academic or professional domains– As an outcome- hands-on, situated within nature and highly interactive education methods were highlighted by the participants to be the most effective.

This session was thoughtfully curated and guided by members of the ᴇNᴀBʟS Learn in Nature Lab team (KomBioTa/UHOH) starting with a warm welcome word by Dr Ann-Catrin Fender, insightful presentations by Sabiha Gökçen Zwack, Sri Dhanya Adusumilli, and the NBS101 Bingo activity by Nandni Shah. Special thanks also to Polly Forbes for her invaluable support behind the scenes. Their expertise enriched the learning experience and helped spark meaningful reflection throughout the day.

Stay tuned for more updates and the upcoming sessions of NBS101!