Two years ago Nebraska Wesleyan University psychology professor Frank Ferraro took students to Wyoming where they spent a week immersing themselves in the concepts they learned in his class, 鈥淧sychological Reactions to Nature.鈥 For a week, the snowy range of Grand Teton National Park served as their classroom.
Without the aid and distraction of technology, Ferraro鈥檚 class worked together to transport equipment, purify water, heat food, locate campgrounds and mostly importantly, connect to the natural world.
That particular experience inspired student Brittany Lester to learn more about nature鈥檚 effect on connections, and ultimately led her decision to pursue a graduate degree in psychology.
鈥淭he field of environmental psychology is largely unexplored, and as our world continues to urbanize at an accelerated rate, further research in this area is crucial to better understand the role urbanization plays in human wellbeing,鈥 said Lester.
Lester鈥檚 interest in nature started early and inspired her to start her high school horticulture club. At Nebraska Wesleyan, she pursued a degree and psychology that was highlighted by Ferraro鈥檚 class. That experience led Lester and Ferraro to apply for the university鈥檚 Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant.
鈥淭he grant provides opportunities for students and faculty to explore a common area of interest, to be curious together about how the world operates,鈥 said Ferraro.
Lester鈥檚 research titled, 鈥淭he Effect of Nature or Urban Exposure on Connections to Nature and Stress Reactions,鈥 explored the role the environment plays in physiological and psychological stress. In addition to her time at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, she traveled to Yosemite National Park to learn the history of nature-relatedness as described by environmental philosopher John Muir.
鈥淚t was amazing to see the environment and experiences he described come true,鈥 Lester recalled.
鈥淎ctually being in the same place as some of the authors that I had read about was amazing.鈥
Her own findings were shared at the Nebraska Psychological Association Conference, and will be shared at Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 annual student symposium on April 26 鈥 experiences that she said have also improved her public speaking skills.
Lester will receive her psychology degree in May and plans to attend graduate school. Eventually, Lester would like to become a professor.
鈥淚 want to ignite curiosity in my students in a way that other professors might not,鈥 she said.
She credits Ferraro for shaping her career goals.
鈥淚 would like to provide my students with the same inside and outside experiences that Dr. Ferraro provided for me,鈥 she said.
Those experiences will play an important role in her next journey.
鈥淭his experience fueled my academic career and helped to capture my attention to a larger world than my own at 香港六合彩资料大全,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his experience not only impacted my academic life, but also my personal identity. I will continue my travels and research in this area for many, many years to come.鈥
鈥擲tory by Emmalie Harris, public relations intern.