"A holistic approach that integrates inner-outer transformations is crucial for sustainable development"

IOER: What are the main areas of focus in your work?
David Manuel-Navarrete: My work focuses in fostering inclusive transdisciplinary collaborations that weave together scientific, Indigenous, and local knowledge systems. Through the SpiRits Lab, I explore how spiritual and ritual practices can open pathways for personal and collective transformation. These practices help individuals and communities reconnect with nature and each other, fostering resilience and a deeper sense of purpose in addressing environmental challenges.

A meaningful example of this approach is my collaboration with Indigenous communities in the Amazon, where we co-developed initiatives such as solar-powered canoes. These projects are not just about sustainable technology. They are designed to honor and integrate the cultural and spiritual values of the communities we work with. By combining traditional wisdom with modern innovation, we create solutions that support inner transformations amongst Western-educated individual and strengthen their bond with non-human beings.

Your stay at the IOER also included a lecture as part of the IOER Forum series. You spoke about “Inner and Outer Technologies for Sustainability Transformation“. What – in brief – is behind this approach? And why do you consider it crucial for sustainable development?
Inner technologies are rooted in a relational ontology, a framework asserting that reality is fundamentally constituted by relationships, interactions, and connections. They involve practices and processes that nurture personal and collective transformation, such as mindfulness, spiritual rituals, and deep reflection. These technologies help us recognize our interconnectedness with each other and the natural world, fostering a sense of care, responsibility, and belonging. 

Outer technologies, in contrast, are largely based on an ontology of separation. These include the material, institutional, and technological tools we typically rely on to address sustainability, like renewable energy systems, policies, and infrastructure. While these are essential, their dominance often reinforces a fragmented view of the world, where humans are seen as separate from nature and each other. This separation is at the heart of many sustainability challenges we face today.

I consider the integration of these two dimensions crucial for sustainable development because the overemphasis on outer technologies perpetuates the very mindset that created our current crises. By reconnecting with a relational ontology through inner technologies, we can reimagine and reshape outer technologies in ways that honor our interconnectedness. This holistic approach is vital for creating systems and societies that are not only sustainable but also just, regenerative, and life-affirming.

What inspired you to pursue the IOER Fellowship opportunity? How does your research align with IOER's work?
My research trajectory is deeply aligned with IOER’s mission to foster transformative, space-related sustainability solutions. Over the years, my work has focused on partnerships between academics and practitioners to promote the sustainability and regeneration of landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity. These collaborations are essential for co-designing, testing, and piloting leadership models that accelerate the deployment of nature-based technologies, particularly at the interfaces of rural and urban spaces. What excites me most about this fellowship is the chance to advance a major innovation in my research: assessing leadership models that integrate inner-outer transformations. This means bridging subjective dimensions like values, agency, and intentionality with structural changes, creating a more holistic approach to sustainability.

What opportunities did the IOER Fellowship open up for you? 
The IOER Fellowship opened up a unique and deeply meaningful opportunity for me, particularly through my close collaboration with Dr. Christoph Woiwode from the Urban Human-Nature Resonance research group. Our meeting revealed a remarkable alignment not only in our academic interests but also in our personal biographies, passions, and even our approaches to research and collaboration. Both of us share a commitment to bridging the inner and outer dimensions of sustainability transformations, and our complementary expertise created a strong foundation for innovative and impactful work.

Working closely with Dr. Woiwode, through platforms like the Transformations Community or the SpiRitS Lab at ASU, we can further amplify our impact, ensuring that diverse cultural perspectives and innovative practices inform our work. Together, we can leverage our international networks in Europe, the United States, Asia and Latin America to expand the reach and impact of inner-outer transformations towards holistic and inclusive Earth stewardship. This fellowship is not just a professional opportunity but a chance to contribute meaningfully to a global movement for regenerative and equitable sustainability transformations.

Did you also have the opportunity to get to know Dresden a little? What did you particularly like?
I cherished the organ concerts in Dresden’s churches and cathedrals. The acoustics and the spiritual ambiance of these spaces made the music feel truly transcendent, offering moments of quiet reflection amid the city’s vibrant energy. Another highlight was visiting the community gardens and projects in the field of community-supported agriculture downtown. These green oases are not just about urban farming; they are spaces of connection, where people come together to cultivate both food and community, embodying the kind of relational sustainability I deeply value.

Beyond Dresden, I was fortunate to spend time in the Saxon Switzerland National Park by the Elbe River. The natural beauty there is staggering, and the serene flow of the river gives you pause. The landscape carries a profound spirituality, a reminder of how nature can inspire both awe and a sense of inner peace. It is a place where the outer majesty of the world mirrors the inner transformations I explore in my work.

A look ahead: What could a joint work with colleagues at IOER look like? Are there any plans?
The IOER Fellowship represents a pivotal opportunity to build on our established partnerships and networks, particularly as we prepare to develop a project proposal for the initiation of international research collaboration. This funding would enable us to deepen and expand our work on inner-outer transformations, sustainability, and the regeneration of landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity, fostering collaboration between German, European, and global partners.

Prof. Dr. David Manuel-Navarrete has answered the questions in writing.

Scientific contact at the IOER
Dr. Christoph Woiwode, e-mail: c.woiwode@ioer.de