Newsletter from Thursday, August 6th, 2020

Dear NCH2 Community,

This newsletter highlights some upcoming events as well as news articles that may be of interest and recent research.

Upcoming Events:

Smith Nature Symposium Livestreams 
Dates and topics listed below:
Aug 13, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – Our Future Speaks
Aug 27, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – Essential Water
Sep 3, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – It’s Raining, It’s Pouring
Sep 10, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – Renewable Energy Surges
Sep 17, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – Environmental Justice in Lake County
Sep 24, 2020 02:00 PM CDT – Healing Spaces
Oct 2, 07:00 PM CDT – Awards Ceremony Honoring Bill
Register here

Join these live-streamed conversations to build a more just and sustainable future in the midst of the climate crisis and COVID-19. The Smith Nature Symposium is a seven-part series, hosted by Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, and features solution-driven artists, scientists, and environmental leaders.  The Symposium series begins on August 13th and culminates in the Awards Ceremony on October 2nd with the 2020 honorees: Bill McKibben and Sue Halpern. Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra join the Awards as Masters of Ceremonies, along with special guests.
The Smith Nature Symposium is a celebration of nature, the arts, and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the science of conservation and deepened the study and understanding of the natural world. The event supports Brushwood Center’s community programs and COVID-19 crisis response. All programs are available in English and Spanish.

For more information, click here. 

The Conservation Foundation's Forest Therapy Walks

Photo of a forest in Copeland Valley in Westland Tai Poutini National Park, taken by Kiersa Berg.

The Conservation Foundation is partnering with local park districts to provide a nature immersion experience. These forest walks will help you immerse yourself in nature and experience the healing effects of forest therapy or Shinrin-Yoku (Japanese for forest bathing). The walk is not about the destination, but instead the awakening of your senses to the natural environment around you. The walk is entirely outdoors. Be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. We will practice social distancing and follow CDC guidelines.

​Find locations, dates, and specific registration links below:
Dates:
Thursday, September 16th, 23rd, and30th, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Register here)
Thursday, October 7th, 14th, and 21st 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM (Register here)
Location: Oak Brook – Dean Nature Sanctuary, 1215 Canterbury Lane, Oak Brook 60523
Certified Forest Therapy Guide: Jodi Trendler
 
Dates:
Friday, September 18th 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Register here)
Sunday, October 25th 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Register here)
Location: Wheaton – Lincoln Marsh, Harrison Ave. & Pierce Ave., Wheaton 60187
Certified Forest Therapy Guide: Jeanne Lovenelli
 
Dates: 
Tuesday, September 22nd 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Register here)
Saturday, October 10th 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM (Register here)
Location:Naperville Knoch Knolls Park, 320 Knoch  Knolls Rd., Naperville 60565
Certified Forest Therapy Guide: Jeanne Lovenelli

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Children’s Environmental Health. 

A free webinar from Wellness House

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SHIFT Summit
Dates: October 14-16, 2020
Topic: HEALTHY BY NATURE: Equity, Access and The Mental Health Benefits of Time Outside
Register here. Registration opens Tuesday, July 21, 2020. ​

Thursday, August 20 | 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Susan Buchanan, MD, MPH
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health
Children – constantly growing as they are – are more vulnerable to  environmental risks than adults. During this presentation, Susan  Buchanan of the Great Lakes Center for Children’s Environmental  Health will explain why exposures to toxic substances at a young age is so impactful to health, what common toxins or carcinogens to be aware of, and steps for reducing your exposure in your home.
 Click here to register

The 2020 SHIFT Summit will be broadcast virtually from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, from October 14-16. Entitled “Healthy by Nature,” the Summit will focus on the mental health benefits of time outside, with a specific focus on health equity and access to nature. The 2020 SHIFT Summit has three main goals:

1.     Facilitate networking and transdisciplinary collaboration  
2.     Showcase best practices, i.e., work that is impactful, innovative and replicable
3.     Develop substantive outcomes that help advance nature as a social determinant of health

The program will be developed around two elements integral to these objectives: 

• Official Selections for The SHIFT Awards, which feature representatives of the work determined to be the most innovative, impactful and replicable in the space by our researchers
• The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) which prepares early career leaders to address issues related to public health, conservation, advocacy, structures of oppression and community engagement

The Summit will be feature a combination of keynote presentations, think tanks, workshops, panel discussions and world café-style breakout groups.

See frequently asked questions, summit agendas, and more here. ​

Agents of Change Science Communication Fellowship Program

Application due date: Friday, August 28, 2020
Website: https://www.agentsofchangeineh.com/

Background:
Do you find science is lacking diverse voices and want to help create change?
We invite you (or your trainees) to be part of the Agents of Change science communication program, a joint initiative between GW Milken School of Public Health (Founder and Director: Dr. Ami Zota) and Environmental Health News.

Agents of Change is an ongoing series featuring the stories, analyses and perspectives of next generation environmental health and justice leaders who come from historically under-represented backgrounds in science and academia. These essays depart from other types of scientific writing in that fellows have a chance to blend their lived experiences and research expertise. We developed this platform to provide a space for early career scientists to explore intersections between research, health, diversity, and justice. In our first year of the program, fellows wrote about various topics including: Black food sovereignty, indigenous cultural fire practices, housing security and urban displacement, workers’ rights, energy production and public health, and prioritizing inclusion in environmental health research.

Illustration from the Agents of Change Website (https://www.agentsofchangeineh.com/)

What you do:
This is a chance to have real impact. The fellowship offers an opportunity to reach people both within and outside an applicant’s field. Some of our prior blogs have reached nearly one million views, with readers ranging from senior scientists to social activists to farmers in rural America. By participating in the program, fellows will improve their writing skills and get experience communicating with new forms of media (e.g., blogs, social media, podcasts). Through our monthly trainings, fellows get the opportunity to: discuss new ideas in a safe space, provide and receive feedback from peers, and learn about new research and community perspectives in environmental health and justice.

How to apply:
Eligible applicants are early career scientists or early career practitioners from under-represented populations pursuing work related to environmental public health, environmental justice, or ecosystem/climate health or justice. Relevant disciplines may include (but not limited to): environmental health, epidemiology, urban planning, earth sciences, or sociology. Applications are due on August 28, 2020. More information on fellowship requirements, eligibility, and the application process is available at www.agentsofchangeinEH.com. If you have questions about the program, you can also email  Dr. Ami Zota at azota@gwu.edu.

In the News

A graphic from the Washington Post Magazine's Article "Pandemic underscores how public parks shape public health" that shows how much of the population is living within a half mile of a local, state, or national park. 

The Washington Post Magazine published an article titled, “Pandemic underscores how public parks shape public health.” This article explores how access to green space is vital for longevity and mental health especially in relation to the current pandemic.

Here's the link to the article.

 Paper of the Month:

Quay, J., Gray, T., Thomas, G. et al. What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19?. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education 23, 93–117 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-020-00059-2
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42322-020-00059-2
Abstract: This is an unusual article in that it brings together the perspectives of many on this journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and environmental education. The future is not yet written, of course, so it is worth thinking about how the current moment may impact on the months and years to come. The aim of this article is to influence and support such thinking.

Check out our Recent Research Page for more peer-reviewed articles of interest!

Happy Reading!