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Nature and Health

Illuminating the reciprocal connections between nature and well-being

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    The UW Center for Nature and Health seeks to illuminate the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature.

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    | Newsletters

    Summer 2026 Newsletter

    August 26, 2026

    Dear Nature and Health Community –
    While campus is quieter in summer, our team has been busy behind the scenes. We’ve been advancing novel research (including the healthcare cost savings of time spent in nature), planning community events (our 10th symposium is shaping up to be something special), and mentoring some wonderful summer interns. 

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    Featured Research

    The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Ecosystem Services cover

    Psychological Ecosystem Services

    Psychological Ecosystem Services include the diverse ways in which nature contributes to the mental and emotional well-being of individuals and communities, and encompass the psychological benefits derived from interactions with natural environments. In this new chapter, Gregory Bratman, PhD, Nature and Health’s co-director, considers a range of studies within environmental psychology, epidemiology, and exposure science that fall under the umbrella of psychological ecosystem services.

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    With your support, we can better understand how nature affects human health, how to best leverage these benefits, and how to implement policies that make nature more accessible to all communities.