Mending the Living World
Columbia Maison Française – January 28, 2026
Columbia University and Villa Albertine will launch a new conversation series on ecology in 2026, addressing ecosystem collapse, human–nonhuman relationships, the societal impacts of global warming, and questions of resilience.
The inaugural event, Mending the Living World, will take place on January 28 at Columbia University. The panel features Corine Pelluchon, French philosopher of environmental ethics; Ana Porzecanski, Director of the Center for Biodiversity & Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History; Cyrille Barnerias, Director of International Relations at the French Office for Biodiversity; and Kristina Douglass, archaeologist and professor at the Columbia Climate School. Sarah Sax, award-winning environmental journalist, will moderate.
The discussion will consider what a “New Enlightenment” might mean in the Anthropocene. As biodiversity declines, the speakers will examine emerging forms of interdependence among humans, animals, and plants, drawing on historical examples of ecological co-adaptation. They will explore how a renewed sense of responsibility toward “the other” could inform public policy and how civic engagement can transform ecological ideals into practical action.
Participants
Cyrille Barnerias is Director of European and International Relations at the French Biodiversity Agency. His previous work includes biodiversity projects with the Global Environment Facility in Washington, D.C., and conservation efforts in Martinique. His career spans biodiversity assessment, protected-area management, and international cooperation.
Kristina Douglass is a 2025 MacArthur Fellow and Associate Professor of Climate at Columbia University. An archaeologist studying long-term interactions between people and ecosystems, she collaborates closely with local and Indigenous communities to address climate and conservation challenges.
Corine Pelluchon, Professor of Practical Philosophy at the University of Paris-Est–Marne-la-Vallée, specializes in moral and political philosophy, ecology, and animal ethics. Her major works examine democratic ecological thought, human dependence on nature, and ethical responses to the environmental crisis.
Ana Luz Porzecanski is Director of the Center for Biodiversity & Conservation at the National Museum of Natural History. With over two decades of experience, she focuses on biodiversity research, evidence-based conservation, and global capacity building.
Sarah Sax is an investigative journalist covering climate and environmental issues, with work appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Washington Post. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science from Yale.
