Our Outreach

At our lab, we firmly believe in the power of outreach and the importance of translating our research into a reader-friendly, 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 multiple 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 reader-friendly 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

Tech for Disasters

Through generous funding from NOAA and the National Science Foundation, we identified nearly 500 VR and AR simulations to help communities prepare for disasters caused by disasters (fire, hurricanes, flooding, etc.). To access the complete list of simulations, click here. To review our methodology, please click here. To notify us of errors or missing simulations, email us at nature@clemson.edu.

Personalizing virtual nature

Lab co-directors personalized and regift a virtual reality experience for a retired forestry professor who no longer was able to visit the forest he loves.

A daily dose of nature

WebMD interviews lab co-director Matthew Browning about technology that tracks time spent outdoors, which can have a positive impact on both physical and mental health.

STEM program for high school students

Summer Scholars has partnered with our lab to create a summer course on STEM, VR, and environmental research designed for rising 9th to 12th-grade students.

Picture of VRN lab member Allison Maynard instructing a group of Summer Scholar's students on an introduction to virtual reality.

Clemson Campus
Nature Rx

A prescription (Rx) for improving our physical, mental, and social lives through enjoying our outdoor environments on Clemson University’s Campus.

Economic benefits of nature

Our lab’s Dollars Grow on Trees project quantifies the economic benefits of nature in the form of reducing healthcare expenditures and utilizations.

Picture of an infographic from the DollarsGrowOnTree Project website. The infographic says: Health care systems may spend hundreds of dollars less per person per year on medical care for people living in neighborhoods with the most green space.