Everything is connected. So what now? On mushrooms, nature, and culture—and the question of how we act together.

Special Event

Pilze

What can we achieve together if we stop thinking of nature and culture as separate entities? And what are the implications for politics and society? The Berlin Botanical Garden, the German Cultural Council, Matthes & Seitz Berlin, and rbb Inforadio invite you to an evening that begins with a fascinating journey into the world of mushrooms and then turns its attention to broader social and political issues.

To kick things off, Benjamin Haag—a Germanist, mushroom expert, and author of the mushroom atlas *Samtfuß, Holzstielchen und Zottelmähne*—will join René Jarling, the mushroom curator at the Berlin Botanical Garden. From literary and scientific perspectives, they will explore the amazing world of mushrooms—their stories, ways of life, and diverse connections to humans and the environment.

In the second part, the question of connections gives way to a question of possibilities: the climate crisis, species loss, and societal transformation call for new ways of thinking and collaborating. At the same time, the current popularity of nature-related themes in literature, art, and culture demonstrates just how great the interest is in new approaches to nature. How can natural history and cultural institutions capitalize on this interest, combine their strengths, and jointly shape social and ecological change?

This will be discussed by Luiza Bengtsson (Berlin Botanical Garden), Andreas Rötzer (Matthes & Seitz Berlin), Judith Schalansky (author and artist), and Olaf Zimmermann (German Cultural Council). The audience is warmly invited to share their thoughts and join the discussion.

Moderator: Harald Asel, rbb Inforadio

Free admission, registration required

A joint event presented by the Berlin Botanical Garden, the German Cultural Council, Matthes & Seitz Berlin, and rbb Inforadio.

Keep your event ticket to receive discounted admission to the Berlin Botanical Garden once in October.

Image: © Olaf ZimmermannTranslated with DeepL

Meeting point: Visitor Center, Entrance at Königin-Luise-Platz

Price info: Please book a free ticket through the Berlin Botanical Garden's ticket shop.

Next date:

• Date Wednesday, 14/October/2026 19:00 bis 21:00
• Venue Botanischer Garten Berlin - Botanisches Museum
• Address Königin-Luise-Straße 6, 14195 Berlin-Steglitz