CSPH5644: Nature Rx: Planetary Health, Plants, and People

The body of scientific evidence demonstrating the ways in which nature connection impacts human health and wellbeing is expanding across disciplines at a rapid rate. This course will introduce students to research related to ways in which meaningful nature experiences replenishes the body (physical and mental), improves the mind (concentration, creativity, mood), restores the spirit (inspires awe), and promotes planetary health (cooperation, reciprocity and holistic solutions). This course will focus on potential causal mechanisms underlying these effects and using the Planetary Health Education Framework to explicitly consider self care, community-based decision-making (centering on health inequities), and inspire reciprocity for a thriving world. The Nature Rx course encourages students to ask: what is it our world needs to thrive? How can I be a better steward of the earth? How can I promote a mindset of being one with nature? How can I play a part in making the natural world feel more inclusive to all individuals? What kind of people do we want to be and become in a world divided? In what ways does my everyday life support the protection of our planet for my generation and generations to come? How can I live out radical hope in the Anthropocene? prereq: Jr or Sr or Grad, or instructor consent

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