Pilot Research Station at Bloedel Reserve — Funded!

We’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with Bloedel Reserve, thanks to funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund! With support from this Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grant, we will establish a pilot biological research station at this stunning 140-acre tapestry of gardens, forests, and trails on Bainbridge Island, WA. The pilot will serve as a foundation for decades of research on the connection between nature and well-being.

This pilot project serves two main purposes:

First, it is a blueprint. We will document and refine the station design, sensor deployment, and data collection protocol so it can be replicated to create new partnerships with parks and preserves across the country.

Second, it is a springboard. Data from these stations will lay the groundwork for a human subjects study — one that examines how nature transforms us at the cellular and sensory level. The more precisely we understand how nature benefits human well-being, the stronger the case we have to protect the places that still hold pockets of beneficial bacteria, natural soundscapes, and clean air, and that buffer communities from the effects of climate change.