A new systematic review of 1,550 studies examined how different green and blue spaces in cities support human health. The evidence shows a wide variety of positive health outcomes, including better physical and mental health and more physical activity. natureandhealth.uw.edu/publications...

Join us on Oct. 14 for a conversation with Sarah Brandt, environmental policy and initiatives lead. Sarah's team works to acquire, restore, and steward green space throughout King County, and ensures that Parks’ work aligns with conservation, climate, and equity initiatives. bit.ly/Oct25Dinner

Curious about what the Center has been working on lately? Want a sneak peek into what's coming this fall? Check out our fall newsletter. You'll find exciting updates on upcoming community events, our latest research publications, and new programs. natureandhealth.uw.edu/2025/09/fall...

National Park Service staff are noticing ways that #ClimateChange is limiting recreation access and affecting visitor health and safety. Researchers spoke to 63 park staff at 31 #NationalParks to better understand how climate change is affecting visitor use at their parks. bit.ly/CCParks2025

A recent study from Miles Richardson highlights how human relationships with nature have changed over the last 200 years. By evaluating nature words in publications, Richardson found that our connection to nature has declined by more than 60% since 1800. doi.org/10.3390/earth6030082

A new Viewpoint describes what researchers should consider before embarking on a community-engaged research journey with Indigenous communities. This paper is co-authored by Michelle Johnson-Jennings, PhD, member of the Center's Steering Committee. natureandhealth.uw.edu/publications...

Registration is now open for the fall NW Nature and Health Community Dinner. Join us for an evening of connection, collaboration, and envisioning what's possible for our communities. events.uw.edu/rmK4N0?utm_s... Community dinners are made possible by the REI Cooperative Action Fund 👏.

We're thrilled to welcome @phillevin.bsky.social, PhD to the EarthLab team! Phil has been a long-time leader in the field of nature and health and served as Director of the first-ever National Nature Assessment. Welcome, Dr. Levin! earthlab.uw.edu/2025/08/why-...

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act! In honor of this anniversary, many state and national parks are waiving entrance fees. Use Find a Park from the National Parks Service to find public lands near you: www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm

The International Conference on Forest Therapy starts in 10 days! You'll hear from two Nature and Health members: Gregory Bratman, co-director of the UW Center for Nature and Health, and Kathy Wolf, member of the Nature and Health Research Collaborative. mint.forestry.ubc.ca/icft-2/

How do parks support social cohesion and civic engagement? Learn more in a new paper co-authored by Dr. Howard Frumkin. The study found that residents of cities with better quality park systems are more socially connected and engaged with their neighbors. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A new paper co-authored Josh Lawler details how biodiversity conservation will require planning for conservation mosaics—large, integrated landscapes, and seascapes composed of areas with different levels of protection and types of management—that cover the entire earth. doi.org/10.1111/gcb.70328

A special issue of American Psychologist, features groundbreaking research on decolonial & liberation psychologies. One paper explores the reconciliatory effects of a decolonized framework on Indigenous and ally community-engaged facilitators during a land-based healing lodge doi.org/10.1037/amp0...

In honor of Juneteenth, entrance to many state and national parks are free. Let's come together to celebrate our shared love for the outdoors and reflect upon the progress we've made—and still need to make—towards equitable and inclusive access to nature. www.nps.gov/subjects/nps...

This paper explores how to better understand what people value about public forest land by analyzing the comments the public submits to the US Forest Service. The authors developed new tools using natural language processing and machine learning to analyze 400K+ comments. doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70050

Join us on June 10 to hear from Mike Anastario. Mike is a sociologist who is interested in the ways that everyday storytelling can inform the development of quantitative methods used in rural and environmental health research. bit.ly/June2025Dinner

Join us on June 10 to hear from José Guillermo (Memo) Cedeño Laurent. His scientific and professional goal is to contribute to the creation of data-driven solutions in the built environment that helps us address climate change and social environmental injustice. bit.ly/June2025Dinner

Join us on 6/10 to hear from Na’Taki Osborne Jelks, PhD, MPH. She is a nationally-recognized leader in engaging urban communities and youth of color in environmental stewardship through hands-on watershed and land restoration initiatives, environmental education, and training. bit.ly/June2025Dinner

Yesterday, more than 100 members of the NW Nature and Health Community came together for our 8th annual symposium. Together, we explored fresh ideas at the intersection of human and environmental health, sparked meaningful conversations, and planted the seeds for new collaborations.

Join us on June 10 for a conversation with Harvard’s JPB Environmental Health Fellows. You'll get to hear about three projects from the 2022 – 2026 fellowship cohort and network with folx working at the intersection of human health, environmental health, and conservation. bit.ly/June2025Dinner

Today’s your last chance to register⏳ for the Northwest Nature & Health Symposium 🌿—a powerful gathering focused on health, environmental equity, and community connection. Join over 100 community leaders, researchers, and advocates from across Puget Sound for this one-day event bit.ly/2025-Symposium

There are only 5 days left to register for the 2025 Northwest Nature and Health Symposium. Don't miss your chance to learn from and network with the region's experts in environmental and health equity. events.uw.edu/event/2025NHSymposium

In this new study of U.S. women from diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, researchers found that #women who lived closer to #greenspaces generally had better overall #sleep health. Associations were strongest among women with more social advantages. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121698

Friendly manages Friendly Hmong Farms, leveraging 20+ years of #SocialJustice work. Her understanding of the intersection between #FoodSovereignty, #LandReparations, and #RacialJustice was shaped by her childhood in Minnesota. On May 21, you can hear her story at the #NHSymposium bit.ly/Friendly2025

On this Earth Day 🌍 , we are deeply grateful for the leadership of Phil Levin and his team. In response to the cancellation of the National Nature Assessment, they have launched United By Nature—a bold initiative to fill the critical gap in understanding our natural world 🌳. weareunitedbynature.org

In a new feature from The Daily, Usha Varanasi—one of our Steering Committee members—touches on the importance of deeply connecting with #nature. dailyuw.com/special_sections/touch-grass-the-health-benefits-of-reconnecting-with-nature/article_0adecd2b-90ab-49aa-be77-8d60cf02fd7b.html

Launa Payne is a member of Xa'xtsa First Nation, an #Indigenous #educator focusing on outdoor education, a co-director of Rise Up Indigenous Wellness Society, and author of two books on Indigenous teachings and connection to the land. Learn about Launa's work at the #NHSymposium: bit.ly/Launa-2025

Hillarie Maddox is a community weaver, educator, and experience designer who explores the intersections of #land, #learning, and #liberation. At the #NHSymposium, you'll have get to hear about Hillarie's transformative journeys with Rewild Learning and Black Girl Country Living: bit.ly/Hillarie-2025

Jeff ᎦᏃᎭᎵᏙ Corntassel, PhD is the author of numerous publications about #Indigenous #self-determination, #resurgence, #internationalism, and #kinship. At the #NHSymposium, Jeff will be participating in a Land-Based Healing Panel alongside four other regional experts. Learn more: bit.ly/Jeff-2025

This year's #NHSymposium features a Land-Based Healing Panel, facilitated by Michelle Johnson-Jennings (Choctaw Nation), PhD. She is an expert in #Indigenous health and #psychology, the transformation of historical #trauma, land-based #healing, and #health promotion. Learn more: bit.ly/Michelle-2025

In this podcast, Dr. Neil Vora shares how nature 🌳 protection and inspiring art 🎨 are key to planetary health and preventing pandemics: news.mongabay.com/podcast/how-nature-protection-and-inspiring-art-are-key-to-planetary-health-preventing-pandemics/

Get to know speakers + panelists of the 8th annual #NHSymposium. Our invited experts advance programs, policies, and research that ultimately expand equitable engagement with #greenspaces so that people and #nature can thrive. Learn more and register: bit.ly/2025-Symposium

Daniel Winterbottom is a #landscape architect and renowned therapeutic garden expert. During his #NHSymposium talk, he will describe how these gardens can restore users “to an unimpaired or improved condition”, lower rumination, increase focus, lower stress, and reduce depression. bit.ly/Daniel-2025

Esther Min promotes principles of #environmental and #climate #justice through community-academic-government partnerships. In 2022, she received the WA State Public Health Association's Health Equity Award. Learn more about her work at the #NHSymposium on May 21: bit.ly/Esther-2025

Amy McDonnell, PhD is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Utah. During the 2025 #NHSymposium, Amy will be speaking about the psychophysiological effects of immersion in nature on attention, mood, and stress. bit.ly/Amy-2025

A new open access paper published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology highlights the benefits of open-water #swimming. This paper is co-authored by the Center's co-director, Gregory Bratman. bit.ly/Open-Water-S...

In the latest edition of Nature Cities, Isabelle Anguelovski and Howard Frumkin explore how recent #climate emergencies and political transitions call for invoking shared values in the management of the climate crisis and the protection of #naturalresources. go.nature.com/3F4g6Wq

At the NW Nature and Health Symposium, you'll get to hear Quincy Henry's story. Quincy and Whitni Henry opened Campfire Coffee in Tacoma, WA and launched Campfire Explorers Club, a non-profit that helps young people from low-income families access the great outdoors. bit.ly/2025-Symposium

This afternoon, KUOW Public Radio interviewed Dr. Howard Frumkin about the National Nature Assessment. www.kuow.org/stories/trum...

👏🏾 We are incredibly grateful to Phillip Levin and the other scientists who are carrying on with the National Nature Assessment. 👏🏾 Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/climate/nature-assessment-trump.html

Hear from Coco Alarcón at the Northwest Nature & Heath Symposium! He is an architect pursuing a PhD in Global Health in Implementation Science. Since 2009, his work has focused on how the built environment impacts human and ecological health. Learn more: bit.ly/2025-Symposium #NHSymposium

🎉 Registration is now open for the 2025 Northwest Nature and Health Symposium! 🎉 Our symposia bring together researchers, community members, and decision-makers to learn about new discoveries, discuss new policies and programs, and advance partnerships. bit.ly/2025-Symposium #nhsymposium

We are deeply saddened by the dismantling of the National Nature Assessment 💔. Fortunately, its poetry companion, The Nature of Our Times, lives on. The online gallery features over 1,200 poems that speak to the immense value of nature. bit.ly/PoemsForNature

A new paper from our research collaborative highlights how interaction with 🌲 nature 🌲 may be a powerful way for children to experience Presence. bit.ly/Scouts2025

The latest issue of Ecopsychology is jam packed with novel research in the field of nature and health. Articles span a wide range of topics, including forest bathing, nature prescription programs, community schoolyards, COVID-19, and more. www.liebertpub.com/toc/eco/16/4

Nearly half of the 425 outdoor recreation counties in the United States have a high risk of wildfire or flooding. A new report from Headwaters Economics explores how we can future-proof the outdoor recreation economy in the face of growing wildfire and flooding risks. bit.ly/Lawson2024

Start your new year off with a free, guided hike in our state parks! First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America's State Parks to get folx outdoors. 🌲 bit.ly/FreeFirstDayHikes