Workshop Title:
Slow walking: Walking in nature with students

Workshop Description and Topic:
I have during more than 10 years hosted different kinds of walks and trips in nature with students. I have done so together with two biologists, one of whom is also a philosopher and teaches philosophy of Science.

In these walks we observe the nature: birds, plants, geology and will often talk about our relation to nature. This will often include questions about religion and spirituality and in relation to this profound question.

The walks are called philosophical trips. We have philosophical bird-and botanical trips, philosophical mushroom trips, and philosophical moss trips.

In this workshop I will make a mock example of these trips and explain more about what are the benefits and what are the challenges with these trips seen from the chaplains point of view. And I hope we also will have an open discussion and benefit from the experiences of the participants. 

Presenter’s Biography, highlighting your professional background:

Nicolai Halvorsen, Church of Denmark, lutheran chaplain at University of Copenhagen, North Campus (Science and Health Faculties) since 1999. Overall interested in Science and its relation to religion and theology. Co-editor of a couple of books and contributor to a couple more in this area. In english is published: ”Science Fiction, Ethics and the Human Condition”, Springer 2017.

Maximum Number of Participants for the Workshop:
20

Any special considerations for participants, such as mobility requirements:
Ability to walk 5-6 km is necessary. Walking will be on gravel footpaths  which unfortunately are not suited for wheelchairs. 

Indication of whether the workshop contains any religious content, specifying the religious affiliation, if applicable:
The workshop will be concerned with the relationship between nature and religion, but any religious affiliation is welcome on the trip and in the discussion.