Past

What is Natural?

This class has passed
This class has passed

What’s it all about?

No artificial Colours or flavours!
All natural ingredients!
No hormones! No chemicals! GMO free!

A lot of marketing content suggests that certain products are a better choice because they are “all natural” or free from chemicals”, but virtually nothing we eat, buy or even do in the world can ever claim to be all natural, and certainly not chemical free.

What will we cover?

We will look back into human history to discover when exactly did we stop living “naturally” and start becoming “civilised”. What constitutes technology and what is really the natural order of things.

Can we really talk about natural agriculture or natural medicine? Why is science finding its way into every aspect of human life, and is this a good thing or not? Come along and find out the answer to the obvious question “What is natural?”

Who will be teaching?

Stu Burns is a biological scientist, and once discovered a new species of fungus. With over a decade of experience teaching biological sciences at the University of Melbourne, and a keen gardener who also runs a consulting business as The Garden Doctor. When he’s not in the garden he’s sharing his knowledge as a producer and presenter on the national community radio program Lost in Science.