Green Legacy: Ethiopia at The Cutting Edge of Environmental Neuroscience
Posted: 17 Dec 2025, 14:28
I have been saying that 'smart place creates smart people'. This is now largely proven by the new emerging field of Environmental Neuroscience which has shown how nature (trees and water) enhances not only physical and social wellness but also cognitive and emotional well-being of the people.
Cognitive well-being means the ability and power to think, to know, to learn, to create, to solve problems effectively, make decisions rationally, make judgements wisely, and more.
The field of environmental neuroscience is establishing the direct link between Nature and Mind. Just as nature and culture drive each other, now we are learning that nature drives the development of mind, hence cognition and thinking.
In short, those who live a green environment think differently from those who live in deforested and desert environment.
For me, smart place means green place, a place with trees, plants and water where healthy creative, intelligent, and productive minds grow and flourish.
It is to the great fortune of the young and newly born generations of Ethiopians to grow and live in a mind enhancing Green Ethiopia.
Cognitive well-being means the ability and power to think, to know, to learn, to create, to solve problems effectively, make decisions rationally, make judgements wisely, and more.
The field of environmental neuroscience is establishing the direct link between Nature and Mind. Just as nature and culture drive each other, now we are learning that nature drives the development of mind, hence cognition and thinking.
In short, those who live a green environment think differently from those who live in deforested and desert environment.
For me, smart place means green place, a place with trees, plants and water where healthy creative, intelligent, and productive minds grow and flourish.
It is to the great fortune of the young and newly born generations of Ethiopians to grow and live in a mind enhancing Green Ethiopia.