International Conference on Forest Therapy | Nature and Health Speakers

The second International Conference on Forest Therapy will be held at the University of British Columbia from August 9-11. This conference offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Vancouver’s stunning natural landscapes while connecting with internationally acclaimed experts. Whether you’re a scientist, practitioner, policymaker, or nature enthusiast, this event promises fresh insights, groundbreaking research, and invaluable networking opportunities to shape the future of this rapidly expanding field. Two Nature and Health members will be speaking at this novel conference: Gregory Bratman, co-director of the UW Center for Nature and Health, and Kathy Wolf, a long-time member of the Nature and Health Research Collaborative.

• Gregory Bratman, PhD
  Gregory’s research takes place at the nexus of psychology, public health, and ecology, with a focus on examining the pathways through which nature experience benefits mental and physical health, and potential causal mechanisms underlying these relationships. He is the director of the Environment and Well-Being Lab ­– a research group that gathers empirical data, develops theoretical frameworks, and uses novel approaches to understand the association of nature contact with human well-being and explores how to operationalize the science in decision-making.
• Kathleen (Kathy) Wolf, PhD
  Kathy is a Research Social Scientist at the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington. Following early career positions as a biologist, environmental planner and landscape architect she completed her PhD at the University of Michigan. She then implemented a multi-decade research program at the University of Washington to investigate human response to outdoor spaces in cities, using theory and methods of environmental psychology.