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Nature and Health

Illuminating the connections between nature and human 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.

    • News and Events

    A person in the forest looking at trees
    | In the News

    The Surprising Science-Backed Reason Being in Nature Makes You Feel Good

    Ashley Abramson · June 5, 2026
    Featuring Gregory Bratman, PhD, the Center’s co-director

    Spending time in or near nature has many potential benefits. A 2021 review found that being in nature (especially while engaging in physical activity) is linked to improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure and reduced risk factors for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes. 

    Read more at The Washington Post
    Dr. Sabine Thomas smiling in the foreground. The background is blurred trees.
    | Events, Community Dinner

    Community Dinner Featuring Dr. Sabine Thomas

    Want to spend an evening in community with an interdisciplinary group of students, professionals, and retirees who are passionate about advancing health equity and access to nature? Want to enjoy a shared meal while learning about novel programs, policies, and research designed to get people outdoors and fully realizing the benefits of what nature has to offer? 

    Read more
    A collage of nature images and people spending time outdoors
    | Newsletters

    Spring 2026 Newsletter

    May 20, 2026

    Dear Nature and Health Community:
    After spending the day with more than 100 members of the NW Nature & Health community at our 9th symposium, we’re feeling genuinely energized, hopeful, and inspired. 

    Read more
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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.

    Support Nature & Health

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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.