Douglas Rushkoff was named one of the “world’s ten most influential intellectuals” by MIT. His work explores what it means to be human in a world dominated by social media, algorithms and robots. For the IMPAKT Festival he talks to anthropologist, environmental activist and landscape designer Julia Watson about her new book LO-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism, which offers a new take on technology.

Whereas high-tech digital technology alienates us from one another and from our environment, the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is all about a symbiotic relationship with nature. Indigenous communities are among the groups hardest hit by climate change; yet, their knowledge can teach us how to deal with extreme situations. We need as much diversity and innovation as possible in order to create a climate-proof living environment. What can we learn from this ancient knowledge? Which solutions can it provide us to survive the climate crisis? How do we create a space for natural systems in a world dominated by digital technology and capitalism?