Over the past four years, semioticians at the University of Tartu have been studying Tartu’s multispecies urban nature and the relationships in this shared space. In particular, they have examined how the urban environment holds meaning for different species and how communication, meaningful encounters, and stories connect different species. More specifically, the study focuses on the green spaces and gardens in Tartu’s Ülejõe district (Ülejõe, Kvissentali, Raadi). This work is being conducted as part of the international Coevolvers (EU Horizon 101084220) project, which aims to find solutions to human social, cultural, and ecological problems through interaction with other species. The project will result in tools that help people recognize the needs of other species in the city and take them into account when designing urban spaces. More information about the semioticists’ research in Tartu can be found in the newly released video.
