Title: Reconnecting with Nature: How Nature Can Influence Our Health and Wellbeing
Speaker: Dr Craig Donnachie, Lecturer B, Department of Psychological Sciences & Health, University of Strathclyde
In this talk, we explore the growing body of scientific research, predominantly from health and environmental psychology, to understand how spending time in natural settings — including ‘green’ (e.g. parks or forests) and ‘blue’ (e.g. oceans or lochs) spaces — can support our focus, lift our mood, and enhance our overall wellbeing.
Dr Donnachie will draw on established and emerging evidence to illustrate:
- How exposure to nature can help manage stress and improve our health and wellbeing
- How we can draw on theory from evolutionary, environmental, and health psychology to understand key underpinning mechanisms
- How we can benefit directly (e.g. physical interaction with natural settings) and indirectly (e.g. virtual settings) from nature exposure
- How nature-based interventions can be harnessed to promote wellbeing and behaviour change, such as increased physical activity and pro-environmental behaviours
- How we can apply psychological theory to design nature-based interventions, including approaches to reach underserved and minoritised communities
- Practical suggestions for how individuals and communities can reconnect with nature in daily life
Doors - 7:30pm - first come first served on seating
Intros - 7:50pm
Talk - 8pm
Q&A - 8:40pm
