SCIENCE
Psychology · environmental behaviour · wellbeing · ecological research
ARALAR ECOSYSTEMS / RESEARCHRESEARCHING OUR RELATIONSHIP
RESEARCHING OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE LIVING WORLD.
A multidisciplinary programme connecting established research, lived experience and place-based inquiry.
01 / THE QUESTIONWHAT HAPPENS WHEN
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
OUR RELATIONSHIP CHANGES?
How do people experience, understand and relate to the living world—and can that relationship be meaningfully strengthened?
We investigate this question for the wellbeing of people and the places they inhabit, with particular attention to young people and university students.
Nature connectedness · Nature relatedness · Human–nature relationships · Relational values · Wellbeing · Nature-Based Solutions
02 / THE RESEARCHFROM CONNECTION
FROM CONNECTION
TO RELATIONSHIP.
Existing research has developed and tested measures of nature connectedness and relatedness. Aralar asks how these approaches might work alongside experiential, cultural and place-based research.
We are researching whether and how relationships develop, change and translate into action.
- Measure
- Experience
- Understand
- Explore change
Research foundations: Mayer & Frantz, 2004 · Nisbet et al., 2009.
Research framework and evidence04 / THE METHODSCIENCE. EXPERIENCE.
SCIENCE. EXPERIENCE.
PEOPLE. PLACE.
We are developing a framework that brings these perspectives into dialogue to investigate a multidimensional relationship.
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Anthropology · sociology · culture · place
EXPERIENCE
Sensory experience · reflection · outdoor learning · observation
PLACE
Landscape · community · local and traditional ecological knowledge
APPLICATION
Education · organisations · Nature-Based Solutions · regenerative practice
THE ARALAR RESEARCH SYSTEMLIVING WORLD
LIVING WORLD
RELATIONSHIP INDEX.
An evolving research instrument exploring dimensions of people’s relationship with the living world.
- Current stage
- Instrument development; scientific testing and validation planned.
- Research collaboration
- Five universities have expressed interest; formal roles and participation are being defined.
- Next phase
- Co-design study protocols and cross-cultural testing with research partners.
- Long-term objective
- A robust assessment and educational framework.
The instrument is not yet validated. Detailed items and scoring methods are not published here.
WHY IT MATTERSWELLBEING.
WELLBEING.
LEARNING.
ECOLOGICAL ACTION.
Three domains to investigate, with outcomes assessed rather than assumed.
WELLBEING
How relationships with nature relate to psychological and social wellbeing.
EDUCATION
How experiential and place-based learning can influence environmental understanding and behaviour.
ECOLOGICAL ACTION
Whether stronger relationships support care for place and participation in Nature-Based Solutions.
WHY NATURE & WELLBEING / PUBLISHED RESEARCHA relationship
120min / week 10–50minutes studied 37research samples
A relationship
worth investigating.
Nature contact & wellbeing
A study of 19,806 adults in England found that at least 120 minutes of recreational nature contact per week was associated with better self-reported health and wellbeing.
White et al. · 2019 ↗Short encounters, student research
A review of 14 studies with college-aged participants reported improvements in several stress and wellbeing markers after time in nature compared with urban settings. Findings varied across measures and studies.
Meredith et al. · 2020 ↗Connection & environmental care
A meta-analysis involving 13,237 participants found a positive association between nature connection and pro-environmental behaviour (r = 0.42).
Whitburn et al. · 2020 ↗These are findings from published studies, not Aralar’s outcomes. Associations do not establish causation. No universal benefit or five-minute effect is claimed.
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & COLLABORATIONOpen questions.
Open questions.
Shared research.
More places welcome.
Mendien Ahotsa brings university students into a relationship with mountains, communities and the living world.
The project is developing in the Basque Country. Five additional universities have expressed interest; academic roles and participation are being defined. We welcome researchers who want to deepen the questions, test the framework and help lead the next stage.
Aralar’s approach draws on five years of field inquiry across four continents. Its next step is to connect that lived experience with collaboratively designed research.
BUILD THE NEXT POLLINATION SPACE WITH USLET’S
LET’S
TALK.
A place. A research question.
A programme to develop together.