Reimagining an Urban Nature

Myers, Zoë

doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9923-8_2

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…and Flies et al (2017) explain that, despite a need for further research, microbiomes should be considered a part of health promoting, biodiverse green infrastructure to increase the diversity of human microbiomes, which in the long term can suppress inflammation and reduce chronic disease. This research puts a different spin on ideas about the benefits of contact with nature (Myers, 2019), and leads to questions of the temporal, spatial, political, affective, and material nature of environments that geographers are familiar with.…”

Section: Environmental Microbiomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In other roles, microbiota regulate drug metabolism and may even influence risk taking and psychomotor skills (Flegr, 2007). Relatedly, the brain-body system and neurological health is also increasingly understood to be supported by microbes, based on connections between environmental and human microbiomes (Leung & Lee, 2016;Myers, 2019) Because microbiomes are essential to many aspects of being human they are framed by social scientists a vital parts of assemblages of more-than-human bodies. Humans are therefore 'superorganisms' (Greenhough et al, 2018, p. 2), with 'being human [labelled]… a multispecies achievement, dependent on the "corporeal generosity" of microbial life' (Lorimer, 2016, p. 58).…”

Section: The Microbiomes Of Human Bodiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This conclusion has direct implications for further problematising the uneven distribution of wealth in cities where poorer neighbourhoods will have less diverse and possibly harmful microbiomes compared to wealthier areas. The absence or low biodiversity of microbes in environments and bodies is beginning to be associated with many largely non-communicable diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's, inflammatory bowel and skin diseases, obesity, allergies, and depression (see , Lorimer (2017), Mills et al (2017;Myers, 2019)). The connection between environmental and human microbiomes is so strong that environments are now considered to be more important than human genetics in shaping gut microbiomes .…”

Section: The Microbiomes Of Human Bodiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resetting urban human‐microbial relations in pandemic times

Maller

2023

Geography Compass

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Microbes, particularly of the viral kind, are currently preoccupying human activity and concerns due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Although for a long time there has been fear associated with ‘germs’, notably viruses and bacteria and the diseases they cause, the pandemic has set these fears into overdrive. As serious as this ongoing event is, there are broader interests and important alternative narratives about the microbial world permeating current thinking, based on research that intersects with and includes biopolitical and relational research in geography. In an attempt at balancing the prevailingly negative discourses about microbes and the potential harms they can cause, and to encourage more geographers to contribute to understanding human‐microbial relations, this paper draws together recent research across disciplines to discuss the prevalence and role of microbes in environments and in and on human bodies. Drawing on ideas of more‐than‐human care, the paper shows how geographers and other social scientists can and are already helping reset human‐microbial relations, and where further work can productively be done.

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Section: Environmental Microbiomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Microbiomes Of Human Bodiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Microbiomes Of Human Bodiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Resetting urban human‐microbial relations in pandemic times

Maller

2023

Geography Compass

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“…In some cases, campus green spaces may be the only accessible natural space for students [ 12 ]. Parks, streetscapes, gardens and informal green spaces can help develop and maintain human connections to nature [ 37 ] as can community gardens [ 38 ]. Not only is this contact important for health, but also student success and completion rates [ 8 , 12 ].…”

Section: The Role and Function Of Campus Community Gardensmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers have recommended university management support the establishment and maintenance of natural spaces on campus [ 12 ] both for active recreation and for solitude, rest and restoration [ 16 , 39 ]. Myers [ 38 ] notes that community gardens are particularly suitable form of urban nature to provide everyday, incidental and fluid contact options. Not only, she argues, can they be created so people can engage with nature in all types of weather conditions, and offer variety in the scale of agriculture or cultivation, they can encourage people to linger and thus enhance the contact experience.…”

Section: The Role and Function Of Campus Community Gardensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trust, Connection and Equity: Can Understanding Context Help to Establish Successful Campus Community Gardens?

Marsh

Mallick

Flies

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Campus community gardens (CCGs) can potentially improve student health and wellbeing, mitigate social and ecological problems, and nurture university-community relationships. However, CCGs are located in complex socio-political and ecological settings and many community gardens struggle or fail. However, few studies have assessed the socio-political/ecological context of a garden setting prior to its development to understand the potential barriers and enablers of success. Our study assessed the socio-spatial context of a proposed CCG at a student university accommodation site. We engaged diverse university and community stakeholders through interviews, focus groups and a survey to explore their perceptions of the space generally and the proposed garden specifically. Visual observations and public life surveying were used to determine patterns of behavior. Results confirmed known problems associated with an underutilized site that provides little opportunity for lingering or contact with nature; and unknown barriers, including socially disconnected stakeholders and community distrust of the university. The research also uncovered positive enablers, such as stakeholder appreciation of the social, wellbeing and ecological benefits that a CCG could deliver. Our findings suggest that an in-depth exploration of a proposed garden context can be an important enabler of its success.

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Preventing the Separation of Urban Humans from Nature: The Impact of Pet and Plant Diversity on Biodiversity Loss Belief

Nguyen

Jin

et al. 2023

Urban Science

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Despite the dependence of human existence on myriad ecosystem services and products, a high proportion of people feel disconnection from nature due to urbanization. This separation appears to have created an increase in the numbers of climate change and biodiversity loss denialists, thereby weakening global efforts to prevent environmental degradation and address environmental issues. The current study employs the reasoning capability of Mindsponge theory and the statistical advantages of Bayesian inference to examine whether access to in-home pet and plant diversity can increase the probability of biodiversity loss belief among urban residents. The findings from 535 Vietnamese respondents indicate that, when respondents feel comfortable at home, a higher diversity of pets is associated with a higher likelihood of believing that biodiversity loss is a real and major problem. However, the effect becomes the opposite when the respondents feel uncomfortable at home. Plant diversity has a positive impact on biodiversity loss belief regardless of comfort. Notably, the impact of plant diversity on biodiversity loss belief is more substantial among respondents who feel uncomfortable than those who feel comfortable. Following these findings, we suggest that increasing in-home biodiversity can be a promising way to raise urban residents’ awareness of the occurrence and significance of biodiversity loss, which will subsequently help them build up an eco-surplus culture.

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Reimagining an Urban Nature

Cited by 3 publications

References 158 publications

Resetting urban human‐microbial relations in pandemic times

Resetting urban human‐microbial relations in pandemic times

Trust, Connection and Equity: Can Understanding Context Help to Establish Successful Campus Community Gardens?

Preventing the Separation of Urban Humans from Nature: The Impact of Pet and Plant Diversity on Biodiversity Loss Belief

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