Browsing by Subject "Biophilia"

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    Caring for nature: motivations for and outcomes of conservation volunteer work.
    (2009-09) Guiney, Margaret Savanick
    The question of what motivates individuals to become conservation volunteers is a critical question for numerous conservation programs that help maintain and improve the environmental quality in modern society. Drawing on literature from the fields of volunteer work, social psychology, leisure, program evaluation and environmental studies, I developed a theoretical framework that explores the connection between motivation and outcomes. Based on this framework, I used a mixed-method approach -- combining surveys and interviews of Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteers -- to better understand what motivates individuals to become conservation volunteers and the outcomes of their efforts. The Minnesota Master Naturalist Program is a volunteer program that educates adults about Minnesota's natural resources and provides opportunities to take part in local conservation projects. I found that both a psychological connection to nature and sense of community both affect conservation volunteer work. A connection to nature both helped initial and sustained participant motivation for conservation volunteer work. A connection to nature is likely an essential characteristic of a conservation volunteer. For most participants this connection began in childhood and volunteering as an adult helped them to stay connected to nature. Shared environmental values may be one of the more important aspects of building a sense of community for conservation volunteers. An extensive training class was a good opportunity for participants to build a sense of community. After an intensive training class, the strong sense of community diminished likely due to a lack of frequent interaction. Creating opportunities for participants to continue to interact after the class may help maintain a sense of community. Conservation volunteer work benefits the environment, the volunteer, and society.
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    Movements and Metaphors: The Biophilia Hypothesis, Feng-Shui, and Restorative Landscape Design
    (2016-12) Hassebrock, Lisa
    This study creates a modern, adapted conceptual definition of the qi theory that is common to both feng-shui and Chinese medicine for comparison with restorative landscape theoretic frameworks. These two systems of knowledge are rooted in ancient qi theory. The roots of this theory are developed in the Chinese classic canon Yi Jing (Book of Changes). This conceptual definition of qi theory is used to understand classical Chinese feng-shui references as design informants for restorative landscapes. A comparison of the two central theoretic frameworks used for research concerning evidence-based design’s study of nature-based restoration is made: the conceptual definition and design informants for Stephen and Rachel Kaplan’s “Attention Restoration Theory (ART)” and the conceptual definition and design informants Roger Ulrich’s “Stress Reduction Theory (SRT)” are the restoration theory frameworks. The “sweet spot” of intersection of these theoretic frameworks informs an overall synthesis of the most universal aspects of theories. The result is a set of design informants for restorative landscape design.