Queer Ecologies – Insights from Timber Festival 2024

Jasmine Qureshi speaks at Timber Festival. Photo credit: Frankie Dewar

How can we take part in ecology and biology in a way that addresses the toxicity of colonialism, normativity and patriarchy in the subject? Jasmine Qureshi speaks to us about using queer theory, indigenous teachings and ancestral storytelling to approach these sciences.

From 5th-7th July 2024, All The Elements curated an area at Timber Festival that brought the amazing energy and knowledge of our community into a beautiful outdoor festival setting in the National Forest. In this series of content, we’re sharing some key takeaways and learnings from the All The Elements programme. Jasmine Qureshi shared a thought-provoking introduction to queer ecology, and we’ve decided to share the whole talk so you don’t miss any of its nuance.

MEET THE EXPERT:

Jasmine Isa Qureshi (they/she), is a journalist (BBC Wildlife, Gaytimes, Metro, etc.), writer and marine/queer ecologist, working as a researcher previously for the BBC Natural History Unit, The Mindfulness Initiative on Climate Youth Resilience, and currently working with grassroots organisation WildCard as Communications Lead.

As a trans, desi, non-binary, and muslim woman, she finds that her need to intertwine her identity in her work is required for authenticity and creativity to thrive. As such, she is a published and spoken word poet, an Ambassador for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, an advisor for RSPB England, and a presenter, speaker, workshop facilitator and wildlife TV Researcher. She is currently working on her first book.

This audio was recorded in the All The Elements main tent as part of Timber Festival on 7th July 2024. This space was run in partnership with Timber Festival, and kindly supported by Patagonia.

The full transcript is available on our Substack feed.