Uniting Nature and Health Through Research and Action

UNF Nature and Health Symposium Topics

• Funders' Breakfast (By Invitation Only)

  8:30 – 9:45 AM | Funders' Breakfast 

  8:30 – 9:00 AM – Networking and Thank You Breakfast
  9:00 – 9:30 AM – Speaker Highlights

  • Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D. – Professor and Director, Institute of Environmental Research and Education & Nature and Health Center, University of North Florida
  • Sylia Obagi, M.B.A. – Executive Director, Winston Family Foundation, Project One Health Jax
  • Marc Berejka, J.D. – Founding President, REI Cooperative Action Fund & Senior Advisor, Brumidi Group, “Perspective on the importance of nature and health investment and community support”

  9:30 – 9:45 AM – Networking and Terrace Group Photo
• Morning Session

  10:00 AM | Welcome and Opening Remarks

  Moez Limayem, Ph.D.
  President, University of North Florida

  10:10 AM | Environmental and Community Resilience in Jacksonville 

  Anne Coglianese, M.P.A.
  Chief Resilience Officer, City of Jacksonville

  10:20 AM | UNF Awarded Florida’s Chapter of the Nature and Health Alliance

  Jay Maddock, Ph.D.
  Chair, Nature and Health Alliance, Professor and Director, Center for Health and Nature, Texas A&M University

  10:35 AM | Outdoor Classrooms, Green Offices, Nature Rx: Why Nature Matters for Jacksonville

  Erin Largo-Wight, Ph.D.
  Professor of Public Health and Director, Institute of Environmental Research and Education & Nature and Health Center, University of North Florida

  11:05 AM | Keynote Presentation | Returning to Nature: Cultivating Moments of Joy and Hope

  Matthew Browning, Ph.D., Associate Professor
  Olivia McAnirlin, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
  Co-Directors, Virtual Reality and Nature Lab, Clemson University

• Lunch Session

  11:50 AM | Lunch and Networking

  12:10 PM | Building a Nature and Health Movement: Actionable Models from my Community to Jacksonville

  Roger Still, M.A.
  Managing Partner, One Health Advisors, LLC

• Afternoon Session

  12:25 PM | Project One Health Jax: Less Screen. More Green.

  Sylia Obagi, M.B.A.
  Executive Director, Winston Family Foundation

  Monica Lopez Magee, M.P.A.
  Chief Program, Policy, and Research Officer, Children & Nature Network

  1:00 PM | Next Gen Nature Presentations

  Ruby Cox
  Student Program Coordinator, Institute of Environmental Research and Education, University of North Florida

  1:10 PM | Invited Student Projects Poster Session

  High School Students (Youth Environmental Leadership Program):

  • Heba Akhda, “Jax Native Wildlife Yearbook”
  • Lindsay Johnson, “Get Outside Scavenger Hunt”
  • Haley Patel, “Green Garden Therapy”
  • Elle Wight, “Run Jax Parks” 
  • Joint Presentation, "Youth Environmental Leadership: Next Generation"

  UNF Environmental Leadership Program Students (Undergraduate Projects)

  UNF Graduate Students & Associates (Nature and Health Lab):

  • Sydney Barrett, M.S., “Nature’s Glow: The Restorative Quality of Brief Indoor Nature Exposures”
  • Alex Nakamura, “The Warm Glow of Going Green: Psychological Rewards of Recycling”
  • Katie Wilkinson, “The Psychology of Plastic Use: What Drives Student Choices”
  • Abbey Young, “Red Meat Consumption: Behavior and Implications”

  1:35 PM | Featured Faculty Researchers: UNF Nature and Health Center

  • Heather Truelove, Ph.D., Psychological & Brain Sciences, “Shaping Behavior for a Healthier Planet: Insights from Psychological Research”
  • Ryan Shamet, Ph.D., Civil Engineering, “Engineering Curiosity: Innovative Approaches to Teaching Geoscience and Engaging Youth in STEM”
  • Katrina Hall, Ph.D., Early Childhood Education, “Kids Learning Outdoors: Outdoor Classroom and Green School Yards” 
  • Chris Baynard, Ph.D., Economics and Geography, “Land Use and Rural Health: Mining, Deforestation and Malaria- Mapping the Connections” 

  2:30 PM | Strengthening Community Partnerships in Nature and Health

  Richmond Wynn, Ph.D.
  Vice President of Community Engagement and Partnership, University of North Florida

  Community Round Table Hosts:

  • UNF Nature and Health Center / Institute of Environmental Research and Education 
  • Project One Health Jax (Winston Family Foundation & Children & Nature Network) 
  • North Florida Land Trust 
  • Timucuan Parks Foundation 
  • Duval County Public Schools 
  • Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens 
  • Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens 
  • St. Johns Riverkeeper 
  • Lift Jax 
  • Partnership for Child Health 
  • LISC Jacksonville 
  • Groundwork Jacksonville 
  • UNF Nature and Health: Ogier Gardens and Eco Adventure 
  • UNF Nature and Health: Botanical Garden and Sustainable Operations