Understanding and Acting on the Health Benefits of Nature
The positive physical and mental health benefits of regular exposure to trees, green spaces and the outdoors are indisputable–and today, they are better documented and understood than ever before by researchers from diverse fields. More and more, a growing body of data asserts the connection between nature and human health. With this quickly growing evidence in hand, how might we use this knowledge to more significantly improve the design and function of urban areas like Chicago?
This fourth session in RxN's webinar series features two leading national researchers on the health benefits of nature-based solutions, as well as a local spotlight highlighting a regional network.
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Guests
Gregory Bratman, Ph.D.,
Gregory is an assistant professor of Nature, Health, and Recreation at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, works at the nexus of psychology, public health, and ecology. His work focuses on investigating the ways in which the environment is associated with human well-being. He takes both empirical and theoretical approaches to understand how nature impacts human mental well-being–specifically cognitive function, mood, and emotional regulation, with an emphasis on people living in urban environments. He is also working to inform the ways that the mental health effects of nature can be incorporated into ecosystem service studies in efforts to address health inequities.
Michelle Kondo, Ph.D.,
Michelle is a scientist with the USDA-Forest Service, Philadelphia Field Station. Her research addresses the following broad questions: What are the health consequences of environmental disparities? By which physiological and psychosocial mechanisms do environments affect health? And, what impact can place-based and nature-based initiatives have on preventing and reducing violence, injuries, and disease? She is also interested in evaluating the influence of community participation in place-based initiatives on health outcomes.
Local Spotlight
Teresa Horton
Teresa is a chairperson of the Nature, Culture, and Human Health Network (NCH2), joins us for a brief overview of how the network connects people interested in investigating and applying knowledge about the health benefits of nature to improve the well-being of our communities.
