News and Events | Nature and Health

Apr 24, 2023 | Events, Guest Speakers

Taming the Anxious Brain with Nature in Mind

Interest in the new frontier of nature-informed mental health has amplified in recent years. Nature-informed (psycho)therapy explores nature-based methods of psychological healing, grounded in the belief that the natural world has profound mental health benefits, especially for anxiety and stress related challenges.

Apr 20, 2023 | Events, Talks

Gregory Bratman Speaks at the 2023 Invest in Nature White House Summit

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking aggressive action to conserve and restore nature, provide communities the tools they need to be resilient, and tackle the climate crisis.

Apr 3, 2023 | Diversity and Equity, Events, Seminars, Symposium

2023 Nature and Health Symposium: Healing Connections

On April 21-22, 2023, community members were invited to gather for the Healing Connections: Nature and Wellness Symposium and Community Day to celebrate Earth Day. The symposium was held at the Pagoda in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA.

Mar 30, 2023 | Events, Symposium

Actions for Restoration, Sustainability and Health

In March 2023, Nature and Health hosted more than 30 scholars for a 3-day workshop at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. This conference, titled Actions for Restoration, Sustainability and Health, highlighted transdisciplinary research at the intersection of equity, health, nature, and well-being.

Mar 23, 2023 | Diversity and Equity, Events, In the News

BIPOC Research Collective at Nature and Health: Actions for Restoration, Sustainability and Health

Story by Allie Long
The traditional depiction of nature in research—as well as in US History, literature, art and most academic inquiries—is largely conceptualized to fit white-dominant narratives. More often than not, this comes at the direct expense and erasure of other cultures and experiences.

Feb 21, 2023 | Events, Guest Speakers

Exploring Personalized Virtual Nature as a Tool for People Living with Severe COPD Featuring Olivia McAnirlin

Olivia McAnirlin (she/her) is a fourth year Ph.D. Candidate in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management (PRTM) program and the Lab Manager of Clemson’s Virtual Reality and Nature (VRN) Lab. Her research interests include studying the psychological and physiological impacts of nature and virtual reality, as well as using virtual reality as a form of storytelling.

Jan 26, 2023 | Community Dinner, Events

Assessing and Addressing Environmental Disparities to Improve Psychological Well-Being

Dr. Kim Meidenbauer is Assistant Professor at Washington State University’s Department of Psychology, Health Equity Research Center. During our January 2023 Community Dinner, Kim examined how features of the physical and social environment affect individuals’ brains and their behavior.

Oct 27, 2022 | Community Dinner, Events

Exploring Factors Shaping the Constraints of Recreation in Forests for People of Color

Despite being the fastest growing group of the US population, people of color are underrepresented in forest-based recreation opportunities. Yet, the freedom for all people to recreate in forests is an important American tradition.

Oct 25, 2022 | Events, Guest Speakers

Get Outside! Using Natural Environments to Support College Student Wellbeing: From Research to Practice Featuring Laura Allen, Ph.D. and Courtney Crim, Ed.D.

Laura Allen, PhD is a Professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, where she has taught since 1994. Her expertise includes child and adolescent development, emerging adulthood, and curriculum development.

Oct 11, 2022 | Events, Guest Speakers

Nature-Based Well-Being Interventions: Grounded in Evidence Featuring Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore

Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Concordia University of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. Additionally, Holli-Anne is the Director of the Nature—Meaning in Life (NMIL) Research Lab, an Editor of the International Journal of Wellbeing, Science Chair of the Spirituality and Meaning Division of the International Positive Psychology Association, and an invited academic with the Global Wellbeing Initiative (a partnership between the Gallup World Poll and the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation).