Our Outreach
At our lab, we firmly believe in the power of outreach and the importance of translating our research into a more accessible and comprehensible format for everyone. By doing so, we aim to provide individuals with the opportunity to discover and understand the numerous benefits that arise from the intersection of nature, health, and technology.
Through our outreach initiatives, we strive to bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general public. We recognize that valuable knowledge should not be confined within the walls of academia; instead, it should be shared and made available to all. By actively engaging with our community, we aspire to foster a culture of learning, curiosity, and innovation.
Our primary objective is to create a platform where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together to explore and appreciate the profound impacts of nature, health, and technology on our daily lives. We firmly believe that by providing accessible information, we can empower individuals to make informed decisions that enhance their well-being and contribute to the betterment of society as a whole.
Through a wide range of outreach programs, events, and educational resources, we aim to inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for the world around us. Whether it's through interactive workshops, engaging presentations, or hands-on activities, our dedicated team is committed to making science and research relatable and enjoyable for people of all ages. We invite you to explore our website, learn more about our ongoing projects, and discover the various ways you can get involved in our outreach initiatives. Together, let's unlock the wonders of nature, health, and technology and embark on a journey of knowledge, discovery, and positive change.
Outreach Highlights
Dr. Browning Discusses Daily Doses of Nature
Dr. Whyte interviews lab co-director Matthew Browning, Ph.D., about technology that tracks time spent outdoors, which can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health.
Bringing Virtual Reality to a Greenville, SC Elementary School
In a recent visit to AJ Wittenburg school in Greenville, SC, the Clemson Virtual Reality and Nature Lab brought an exciting opportunity for students in grades K-5 to experience virtual reality firsthand. Through immersive demos using virtual reality headsets, the lab aimed to inspire young minds and foster an interest in STEM and other emerging technologies. The outreach initiative at the school aimed to engage children and encourage them to explore the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, igniting their curiosity and creativity.
Virtual Reality Helps Coastal Residents Deal with Storm Surges
This NOAA-funded project develops an inclusive VR simulation to increase understanding of severe weather risks, promote knowledge of mitigation strategies, and engage costal residents in active learning. The VR storm surge simulation will allow individuals to experience and practice preventive behaviors, with compatibility across multiple platforms.
A look inside the Storm Surge simulation. This is part of the environment users see when they have their headsets on.
VRN Offers Summer Scholars Course on Virtual Reality & Research Design
Summer Scholars has partnered with Clemson’s Virtual Reality and Nature (VRN) Lab to create a summer course designed to push the envelope of bringing the outdoors indoors. The course is offered to rising 9th-grade-12th-grade students. The goal of the course is to teach high school students that people may not feel comfortable or able, to visit their favorite outdoor spaces and engage in nature as freely as they want, but with VR, a headset becomes a way to transport anyone to both new and well-loved places. These experiences can impact both physical and mental health and can help to create a healthier, stronger, community.
DollarsGrowOnTrees Project
The Nature-Healthcare Expenditure Project investigates the role that nature, and greening, can play in improving the health of all Americans while reducing healthcare costs.
Ukrainian Outreach
Drs. Browning & McAnirlin had the unique privilege of working with US Forest Service’s International Programs and a Ukrainian nature-based therapy non-profit (Metta) to participate in a seminar on virtual nature-based programming for war-affected people in Ukraine.
