Monica Gagliano - Plant Intelligence and the Importance of Imagination In Science | Bioneers

This keynote speech was delivered at the 2018 National Bioneers Conference. Introduction by Kenny Ausubel, Bioneers Co-Founder and CEO.
From ancient myths to modern blockbuster movies, humanity has recounted countless stories in which a seemingly inert vegetal world suddenly comes to life to express itself like a person. What if these stories were more than the fruit of vivid imaginations and were based on an underlying truth? Monica Gagliano, Research Associate Professor in Evolutionary Ecology at the University of Western Australia, has courageously illuminated the revolutionary new field of Plant Bioacoustics. She’ll share startling cutting-edge research and show how contemporary science has finally begun lifting the veil of our assumptions by beginning to attune its ears to vegetal “voices.” She believes this new paradigm will expand our perspectives to provide us with imaginative new solutions to our current eco-cultural predicaments.
To learn more about Monica Gagliano's work, visit www.monicagagliano.com/
Monica Gagliano, a pioneer in the new field of Plant Bioacoustics, is a Research Associate Professor in Evolutionary Ecology and a Research Affiliate at the Sydney Environment Institute at the University of Sydney. The author of numerous groundbreaking scientific articles on animal and plant behavior and evolutionary ecology, she co-edited The Green Thread: Dialogues with the Vegetal and authored the upcoming: Thus Spoke the Plant: Remarkable Encounters at the Frontier where Scientific Insight and Plant Wisdom Meet.
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[@JonathanDavisKookaburra]

I am so grateful this woman exists and is living such an amazing purpose.

[@loveenergy4255]

This is genius, unleashed. I love this lady!

[@Vrin137]

She's amazing, I so resonate with her at all levels. Thank you!

[@Turko7326]

At one point in my life, I was pursuing spiritual questions and so, prayed everyday, hourly, for months; I can't explain the mechanisms behind my experience but at some times I KNEW that the plants were somewhat acutely aware of my presence; their awareness felt very primitive but nonetheless, aware. I will never forget the level of groundedness I felt during that time and will pursue a lifestyle of that nature at some point.

[@michealhigginbotham4036]

You were feeling the connection between you and other forms of life. We are all one life exploring the possibilities of our imagination through various forms and functions.

[@yagradio8655]

Not sure if you meant meditation by stating you prayed , but true meditation also If not...

[@Trashpandapermaculture]

Perhaps it wasn't the plants awareness which was primitive but rather our awareness of theirs. Most of us are not well-attuned to plant communication.

[@wisdom-for-life]

This is great and deserves way more views. Imagination is everywhere = intelligence, life, aliveness is everywhere!

[@larissashen4874]

Nice to bring up the importance of imagination, but what is even more crucial is that she didn't allow assumptions to hijack her ability to see truth. She observed.

[@sharon9270]

What a really lovely lady. I've learned so much from listening to her. I had this plant that was dead basically, to my dismay I had forgotten to water it. I just couldn't part with it, so I kept on watering it from time to time. I also spoke to it saying positive words like "growth" "love", like words of encouragement. Maybe it was the watering, maybe it was my postive intentions towards the plant or both? I could've listened to the person who told me to throw it away because it was so shrivelled and dried up. If I did that then they would have been right. I'm just glad that I did what I did because a plant is a life like any other and deserves a second chance no matter what the odds.

[@michealhigginbotham4036]

Both the water and the positive words, thoughts and emotions help immensely. Vibrations affect water in potent ways. Masaru Emoto did an experiment about this very thing. The field of science of how sound affects matter is called cymatics, and it's important to all life, giving us great insight into how the micro and macrocosm is connected and how life forms and responds to various things. You can even perform Masaru Emoto's experiment at home (without the flash freeze technology) by doing the rice version of it. Basically, pouring water in multiple bowls of rice and giving them different positive or negative input. It has an obvious effect.

[@sharon9270]

@@michealhigginbotham4036 Thank you for your comment. I'm going to try the rice experiment. Does the rice need to be cooked or uncooked?

[@michealhigginbotham4036]

@@sharon9270 i believe uncooked, but it may work either way

[@rcanoli99]

@@michealhigginbotham4036 WowWowWow!! Thank you I'm so glad I read your comment - and Sharon's as well. I've been a musician all my life and always "knew" that sound is an incredibly potent force (for lack of a better word) in our world. Thanks again you guys!

[@j.l.theseagull4822]

Just read the article on Collective Evolution and heard the talk. Consciousness is everything. Everything is conscious, therefore, everything is alive. If everything is alive, even in this 3rd dimension, the lowest vibratory one, imagine the wonders in the higher dimensions and universes? There is a reason we incarnated here. The reason is to learn to love.

[@sharon9270]

Indeed. Love is what made us all possible at one point

[@mizb.9170]

I have always believed in my soul Art and Science are so connected.

[@dianadi026]

Fascinating topic and life’s work . What a beautiful human.

[@mariarosario1464]

Beautiful Monica, Gratitude.🪄💖

[@marieilene5082]

Beautiful! I love this lady!

[@kymchessall7853]

A woman living her true purpose and lighting up the world. Paving the way for all of us, plants and animals included

[@lazarusgodspower215]

Psychedelics has helped me treat my depression, anxiety and even help in exploration of my human psychy.....

[@lazarusgodspower215]

@Psychwillz

[@blacklotus5364]

What a brilliant person and what a wonderful message. I stumbled upon her today and I’m so glad I did. 🌱

[@xwmax9886]

She. Is. Amazing!

[@alfredfullysick]

Incredibly inspiring. Thankyou Monica ❤

[@marlovanmarck2024]

Fascinating.

[@Beautyabove]

Beautiful! and right on!!!

[@oraevalibby1890]

We had a beautiful mimosa tree in my grandmothers backyard with a bird bath under it by her two Ginormous redwoods in Napa CA.. Beautiful tree! I was married in the backyard to stairway to heaven.

[@juliap3457]

Sounds wonderful

[@earthlingsoultreasure]

So comforting to know these things we notice in our own time can be scientifically proven so it can be experienced by others who care too. Blessed!

[@Clara-jl9rd]

psychedelics saved my life. helped me overcome addiction. and freed anxiety and depression,y'all can check him out on

[@Clara-jl9rd]

@mycotenn~

[@Clara-jl9rd]

On IG

[@joedavis4150]

... Thank you bioneers.... thank you plant medicine.... decriminalize nature.... thank you God... thank you Ms Gagliano... thank you all the relatives...

[@nkinki1]

What an incredible validation (not that they need it) to the wisdom so many people carry.

[@queerinsciencetheologyphil8536]

Great experiment ....Music is everywhere ....

[@zarina_sv]

Stupenda creatura 🌻

[@yonihales9133]

Monica your amazing thanks for sharing your interests with us on the internet.

[@ChristophPollak]

If you´re not going to listen to it all, at least listen to the last few minutes. It's worth while your time and awareness. Beautiful!

[@mariablancaayala583]

Incredibly inspiring!

[@Divinescribe3]

Excellent Monica. Go deeper you’re at the cusp of understanding, and of realization

[@EmMa-gu8ii]

Legend

[@cowboys360]

things that scientists do not understand dark matter, quantum mechanics and plant intelligence, maybe they need to open their imaginations

[@almagirimai8931]

Thank you Dr Gagliano for your imagination, your courage and determination in the face of ridicule and your wonderful generosity in sharing your process and findings with us. You seem to me to be a returned initiate guiding us to that door and encouraging the stifled human to open it.

[@sandramcellis8876]

This came across my path by accident lol cant wait to listen in. today Ive was holding the shrubs on my walk bathing them in crystal light and soon realized they were bathing me. ❤️

[@osvaldoluizmarmo7216]

I loved your talk, its simplicity and its charm in exposing something so profound and fascinating. Congratulations Dr. Monica

[@davidmiller4499]

Meaning is inherent to all life in the movement toward pleasure. Does this prove that a plant "thinks" or would humans display our same response to our own environment w/o concepts?

[@n.d8001]

Science is limited when it comes to understand other dimensions of life

[@theasummerdeer]

Love this woman's work and another great book on the subject is "Wisdom of the Plant Devas: Herbal Medicine for a New Earth."

[@blacklotus5364]

I just added this to my list :) thank you

[@michealhigginbotham4036]

Interesting suggestion. Thank you for sharing.

[@bobbinicosia8017]

Finhorn and divas the spirits swirling .. waldorf education works to keep the imagination where it should be when aging

[@PkSage89]

Kathleen Harrison, damn I forgot her, as well as an entire area of such people. Will have to put time into digesting some of their talks, especially hers.

[@cheryljakab4793]

Beautiful

[@futurecaredesign]

I want to see a conversation between Monica Gagliano and Charles Eisenstein.

[@jylyhughes5085]

Me too xxx

[@grande6075]

Brilliant

[@Clara-jl9rd]

psychedelics saved my life. helped me overcome addiction. and freed anxiety and depression,y'all can check him out on

[@Clara-jl9rd]

@mycotenn~

[@Clara-jl9rd]

On IG

[@SofiasBio]

She's so freaking cool

[@daniaboustany9499]

Amazing! We need to make women like HER viral

[@Clara-jl9rd]

psychedelics saved my life. helped me overcome addiction. and freed anxiety and depression,y'all can check him out on

[@Clara-jl9rd]

@Mycotenn

[@Clara-jl9rd]

On IG

[@FarmerAmith]

Aren't there any Question and Answer session post TED/Talks?

[@aidanhodgescience7634]

Thats later in the show

[@georgeduncan5178]

The Ashaninca 💜🍃🍃deeply connected with spirits in nature Manikari..which Religion deeply dishonors 💥💥💥💥💥💥

[@Shannodavid7834.]

@tagshanno she is the best dealer and also do fast delivery to any location

[@Shannodavid7834.]

She’s on Instagram

[@PhillipStreams]

I wanna be a plant person!

[@pocahontas330]

💖🙏✨

[@giuseppegagliano7026]

🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@classicrocklover5615]

"Science" is only as good as the methodology and tests used. And that, too often, is influenced or even pre-determined by the funding source paying for the "science"

[@CharlesQuiles86]

I would love to sit in ceremony with her. aho

[@goddessofkratos]

Someone please go to your local lowes and homedepot and get their "throw aways" in garden. Genocide . they will give them free or 90 % off sometimes depends on the manager. Sometimes they just throw away

[@marykimberlyhayes]

Fabulous Talk, thank you! Now I suggest with your inquisitive mind you open the door to the IPCC rules for submitting a paper.....they are only accepted IF they say 'Humans Did It' !

[@wookieschnitzel7595]

I wonder if we all communicate through pheromones. Maybe our nose smells, then a chemical change happens in our body and adaptation begins. Maybe underneath our notice?

[@rubenverheij4770]

From vegan, to fruitarian*. _________________ * What a frui- tarian can eat: 1. Legumes (peas, beans, etc) 2. Nuts (cashew-nut butter, peanutbut- ter, walnutbutter, sweet chestnut butter, etc, etc) 3. Seeds (wheats, oats, rice, etc) 4. The fruit-vege- tables (toma- toes, zucchi- ni, eggplant, okra, cucum- ber, bell pep- per, pumpkin, pepper, pick- le, olive, etc.) 5. Mushroom 6 and 7. And sprouts and tea lea- ves (only if the plant is not killed!) 8. And fruits (orange + apple, etc)

[@onelove8062]

what a unique accent she has, Brazilian x Australian?

[@lazarusgodspower215]

Psychedelics has helped me treat my depression, anxiety and even help in exploration of my human psychy.....

[@lazarusgodspower215]

@Psychwillz

[@jimmybecomesafool9525]

pavlov experiment jjust like the money reward system to instill delayed gratification in humans instead of being at peace with the symbiotic instant gratification of getting your needs met and that being the reward in itself. before -Im hungry theres food eat it good . nowadays- theres food let me do some complicated task 40 hours a week manage a bank account, understand math and operate a self check out

[@Clara-jl9rd]

psychedelics saved my life. helped me overcome addiction. and freed anxiety and depression,y'all can check him out on

[@Clara-jl9rd]

Check him out on IG

[@Clara-jl9rd]

@mycotenn

[@zoltanjuniornagy9507]

we should start to create phones to kommunicate with our plants. In fact i think we should investigate a "translator" that can be used by both (humans ore flora) like a phone and not only like "let´s see what my plants do!" more like "whats going on today little salad?" -----------> "nothing serious, growing well, thanks"

[@connieramson4654]

i found this in a random word gen

[@PhilipChandler]

There is a place for imagination, as a means to explore possibilities, but in the end, science is about facts. Imagining things that do not yet exist is how we design new things. Imagining how things that do exist have solved the problems of survival is entirely legitimate: the danger is in projecting our beliefs, values and desires onto vastly simpler organisms.

[@Sara-xn3qj]

You could also argue that projecting beliefs, values and desires is what happens when you don't explore possibilities that aren't mainstream

[@yonihales9133]

Unfortunately Sciences evolve into a religion

[@almagirimai8931]

Science has become a belief system much like a religion, of orthodoxy and established structure, hierarchy and narrow interpretation which is what Dr Gagliano's work is beginning to open up. There is only danger in that for those who identify with the status quo.

[@johnkennedy9486]

Scientific models are often not facts but useful models. These tend to be simplifications of more complex scientific equations or something that was made up and more constructed than you may think. Imagination is helpful for reductionist approaches that are helpful to make good predictions from very complex phenomena.

[@blacklotus5364]

Agreed, but the point you made is kind of paradoxical. Within the space of a sentence of making it, you projected your beliefs, values and desires onto the plant kingdom by labeling all organisms thereof as being 'vastly simpler'.

[@33Astrologer]

Moon conjunct Neptune in Pisces just as I was listening to your talk . This month is yours 🙏🏼🌹🟢🇾🇪

[@rcanoli99]

Her love of being a living, breathing human being just radiates from her - you can see it you can feel it. It is very attractive. It seems to me a Pavlovian response to "imagination" requires a leap of faith. Strange why her opening statement fell (mostly) on deaf ears. Acknowledging, respecting *"the indigeneity that lives inside me and inside every one of us, because we are all indigenous of this place"* is poignant and apropos. Well no biggie maybe they were googling "indigeneity" lol. 🙂

[@audriussiliunas1222]

She's like a lady divine :)

[@lazarusgodspower215]

Psychedelics has helped me treat my depression, anxiety and even help in exploration of my human psychy.....

[@lazarusgodspower215]

@Psychwillz

[@arlandoamb6754]

I've never heard the phrase the cherry on the cake but I have heard the icing on the cake tomato tomato

[@jkchandravanshi]

I could not understand anything what she was saying.

[@davidmiller4499]

l will argue that she goes too far in concluding "thought", Response does not require visualization, But it does seem critical to creativity.

[@halencarbajal2041]

The tangy thought syntactically thaw because jogging alternatively squeeze mid a muddled search. pathetic, magenta judo

[@scenFor109]

The apparent ease with which photosynthesis splits and combines molecules should be a clue for energy hungry people. I suspect that plants respond, learn and teach, better with scent than with sound or wind. End Global Apartheid

[@lazarusgodspower215]

Psychedelics has helped me treat my depression, anxiety and even help in exploration of my human psychy.....

[@lazarusgodspower215]

@Psychwillz

[@laurenbriscoe6547]

Please know psychedelics can cause psychosis meaning terrrifying mental images, flashbacks, being unable to speak or eat or drink, inability to work and function, loss of intelligence, creative skills, cognitive skills, extreme depression, loss of identity, inability to parent, suicide, delusions, paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations (when sober) loss of job, hospitalization, and possibly homelessness. The depression after psychosis can be very severe (asking someone to help you out of bed) and take years to recover from. It can take many years to recover from. All from taking some trips.

[@wombatcitystudios]

Vegans best not watch this lest you become breathetarians.

[@TheSeliner89]

Are people fundamentally unaware that you consume 10 times more plants when you consume meat? I mean, how are animals fattened up for slaughter? Do people think animals in factory farms survive off oxygen?

[@thunderr8127]

@@TheSeliner89 another vegtard rubbish 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheSeliner89]

@@thunderr8127 hahahhaha "When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser." You should probably check out the United Nation's report titled "Livestock's Long Shadow" prior to commenting. Enjoy your learning.

[@bellezavudd]

And the breathatarians become imaginatorians.

[@saragenta8309]

Ha ha ha

[@benforst2287]

Wtf is she talking about!

[@sharon9270]

Are you serious?

[@benforst2287]

@@sharon9270 can u explain this to me?

[@naftalibendavid]

Classically conditioned plants. She took a UCS, paired it with a neutral stimulus, and eventually the plants learned to associate them. That’s the key. She has a narrative for how she got the idea, but that’s the take home finding. I hope that helps.

[@jayzonrosario1151]

You take so long to explain very simple thing just get your experiment out there explain it and move on to the next stop treating the audience like 5 years old kids

[@deanpesci8484]

Mind. Blown.

[@lazarusgodspower215]

They are on telegram and Instagram as

[@lazarusgodspower215]

Psychwillz

[@deanpesci8484]

When we lose are imagination, we lose possibilities, and we lose a large part of our intelligence....