EECS PhD student strengthens UK–Japan collaboration on human–plant interaction design
Nirit Binyamini Ben-Meir from the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science has completed a research visit to Japan as part of an ongoing collaboration with the University of Tokyo.
Supervised by Professor Pat Healey, Nirit’s research explores how human–plant interaction design can promote ecological stewardship and encourage care for living systems. Her work forms part of a broader effort to understand how technology can mediate relationships between people, the environment, and non-human life.
During the visit, Nirit collaborated with Professor Hill Hiroki Kobayashi’s Lab on Human–Computer–Biosphere Interaction at the University of Tokyo. The team led a series of co-design workshops in Tokyo and Kyoto, supported by the Fabcafe global network, bringing together academics, artists, and members of the public. They also conducted fieldwork in natural reserves across Japan, testing interactive prototypes designed to foster reflection on human–nature relationships and care for ecosystems.
One of these prototypes, Ripples of Care, uses a network of sensor-embedded moss terraria that respond to touch, light, and water. Each “moss island” communicates with others through ripple-like audiovisual signals, creating a playful and meditative experience that invites participants to care for living systems and observe the interconnectedness of nature.
This collaboration bridges UK and Japanese expertise in human–computer interaction, cognitive science, and sustainable design, drawing on both nations’ rich cultural perspectives on human–nature relationships. The research advances a new framework of Human–Computer–Biosphere Interaction, which challenges traditional approaches in computing by placing care, empathy, and ecological wellbeing at the centre of design.
“This work is about using technology to build—not replace—our connection with the living world,” said Nirit. “By inviting people to engage with plants through interactive systems, we can reimagine how digital design supports environmental awareness and responsibility.”
The project is supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, iGGi EPSRC, Fabcafe Kyoto and Tokyo, the Royal College of Art, and the University of Tokyo.
The next phase of the research includes the presentation of Ripples of Care at a public exhibition at Brompton Park Chapel Gallery, London, on 30 November 2025, followed by interactive demonstrations at Queen Mary’s Human Interaction Lab later this winter.
Learn more about the collaboration and upcoming events:
🔗 Fabcafe Kyoto/Tokyo Workshop
🔗 Brompton Chapel Event
🔗 Nirit Binyamini Ben-Meir’s webpage