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Urban nature is disappearing—and good intentions aren't enough

Most cities want more nature. Few have the tools, data, or standards to make it last. The result is a persistent gap between what gets planned and what actually survives — with real consequences.

1

Investments fail — trees die, green space degrades, and no one knows why until it's too late.

2

Decisions get made without data — leaving nature dependent on advocacy rather than evidence.

3

Climate resilience suffers — because the ecosystems cities are counting on were never properly established.

This is a solvable problem. The science, the technology, and the frameworks exist. What's missing is connecting them to the right people and decisions.

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What is Internet of Nature?

Internet of Nature® connects ecological science with emerging technology to make urban nature measurable, manageable, and fundable — across four phases: map, monitor, manage, reconnect. Less guesswork. Better outcomes for nature and people.

How I work

Three ways to work together:

1

For event organizers

Keynote Speaking

I speak on urban nature, emerging technology, and public health — at conferences, summits, and festivals worldwide. Past stages include TEDx, Google, The Next Web, and Partners in Community Forestry. Research-led, accessible, and available in person or virtually.

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2

For cities, developers & foundations

Consulting & Advisory

I work with cities, developers, and foundations as a strategic advisor and project partner. Recent projects include biodiversity monitoring tech blueprints, urban forest master plans, and nature-health grant strategies. Rigorous and tailored to each client.

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3

For institutions & innovators

Research Partnerships

I collaborate with research institutions and innovation programs on applied urban ecology. Affiliations include the National Geographic Society, MIT's Senseable City Lab, Van Leer Foundation, and Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Grounded in science, oriented toward impact.  

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Hi, I’m Nadina

I'm a Dutch-Canadian ecological engineer and science communicator. I completed my PhD in Ecological Engineering in 2020 and held a Fulbright Scholarship at MIT's Senseable City Lab, where I'm still an affiliate. I'm a National Geographic Explorer and a Van Leer Foundation Fellow.

My book, THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES, was published by HarperCollins in 2024 and became a #1 Amazon bestseller. I also host the Internet of Nature Podcast — now in its seventh season — and write regularly on Substack.

My practice works with municipalities, real estate developers, investment firms, foundations, and conservation organizations across five continents. The through-line is always the same: nature in cities is worth protecting, and there are better tools to do it.

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The work in practice

Keynotes, advisory projects, research partnerships, and community science — spanning five continents and over a decade of work at the intersection of urban nature, technology, and public health.

Keynote

Utopian Hours Keynote

Headlining the eighth edition of Utopian Hours, Europe's leading festival for city-making and urban innovation, to present my book in Turin, Italy.

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Keynote

Keynotes at the Partners in Community Forestry Conference

Delivering the opening and closing keynotes at the Partners in Community Forestry Conference in Chicago, celebrating urban forestry and community connections.

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Keynote

Dutch Book Launch – An Evening of Connection and Celebration

An unforgettable evening celebrating the Dutch translation of THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES with family, friends, colleagues, and fellow nature lovers.

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My work in the words of others

I've had the pleasure of working with passionate individuals and teams dedicated to building the urban ecosystems of the future.

Logo 880 Cities

"Nadina combines enormous knowledge, much enthusiasm, and total commitment to create a better world for all. She masterfully combines technology, nature, and people. Nadina is a superb communicator, making complicated issues understandable through her keynotes."

Gil Penalosa, Founder, 8 80 Cities and City of Toronto Mayoral Candidate (2023)
Logo Climate Campus

"Nadina’s keynotes are always spot-on. She has a remarkable view of what the world, nature, and people need in urban environments. She’s great for a breathtaking keynote, the dissemination of knowledge and launching products at the nexus of cities, ecology, and tech. With her concepts, Nadina plants nature and technology right into your heart!"

Ivo Boerdam, Innovation Coordinator, Climate Campus
Logo Landscape Ontario

"Dr. Nadina Galle's work is visionary. We were fortunate to have her speak at our Landscape Ontario Congress on the Internet of Nature. She is an excellent communicator but most importantly she is inspirational. Nadina stretches our minds and imaginations and most importantly communicates the “why” of our green profession. I highly recommend her as a keynote speaker."

Tony Di Giovanni, Executive Director, Landscape Ontario
Logo Nature Desks

"If you know Nadina and her work, or if you ended up on this website, you know she is a passionate ecology lover with a deep understanding of modern technology. We've worked together on several projects. It’s always a joy and huge inspiration to work with Nadina: she is hands-on, enthusiastic, a good listener, ambitious, and always well-prepared. For me personally one quality does stand out: her willingness to share and help out. Looking forward to many years of collaboration!"

Ioana Biris, Founder, Nature Desks
Logo A'DAM

"Nadina is a natural entrepreneur and inspiring to work with. She is a skilled communicator and a passionate leader for positive change. It was a pleasure to work with her myself, to draw on her professional enthusiasm and watch as others around her started to raise their game to keep up."

— Adam Stones, Founder, A’DAM Communications
Logo Urban Future Global Conference

"Nadina is an eloquent and sharp speaker on the topic of urban metabolism and circular economy in cities; she brought a fun and conversational dynamic to our panel and I look forward to working with her again in the future."

— Ashima Sukhdev, Government & Cities Programme Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Logo THEI

"Dr. Nadina Galle crafted an attractive speech in which she spoke eloquently on the role of emerging technologies in urban forestry. Nadina took great care to make the webinar engaging and interactive, despite the Covid-19 restrictions. I highly recommended Nadina to anyone seeking an inspiring keynote speaker."

— Dr. Caroline Law, Assistant Professor, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong
Logo Erasmus University Rotterdam

"Still buzzing after an inspiring workshop by Nadina on the transformative power of urban experimentation."

— Dr. Flor Avelino, Assistant Professor, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Logo Green Cities Europe

"Nadina delivered two presentations for Green Cities Europe. The talks were not only interesting, but the preparations were also very smooth. Nadina offers clear deliverables, solid communication, and quick decision-making without compromising quality."

— Sytse Berends, Communications Director, Green Cities Europe
Logo UVA

"Working with Nadina is always a rewarding experience: from planning to delivery, she is a dedicated project partner who goes above and beyond to ensure that students have everything they need to make the most of their education experience. She is a ready and collaborative individual with a wealth of information that stirs students’ interest in the topics at hand."

— Ian Kenny, Summer Programmes Office, University of Amsterdam
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The Nature of Our Cities

We built our cities to keep nature out. But what if our estrangement from the natural world isn't just making our cities unlivable — it's making us unwell? A deeply reported journey to the frontlines of a quiet revolution, from AI-powered prescribed burn robots in California to the schoolyards of La Paz where children shattered every wildlife documentation record on Earth.

"...a deeply insightful blueprint for the future of our connection to the outdoors — and a delightful joy to read."
— Robin Thurston, Founder and CEO of Outside Interactive Inc.

Michael Easter's positive book review of The Nature of Our Cities
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Now on Substack

I write on Substack — podcast drops, field notes, and essays about urban nature, technology, and public health. Some pieces come from the field. Some come from the research. Some are just things I can't stop thinking about.

The hidden roots of a dispute

My tenth column for Landscape Trades explores how ground penetrating radar is changing urban forestry.

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I’m taking the City Nature Challenge—will you join me?

A personal journey into the City Nature Challenge, connecting communities to protect and celebrate biodiversity.

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Book review of THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES

Read this SamPol book review of THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES—a deep dive into how technology can help bring nature back into our cities.

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