Becky Mathers is the post-doc researcher for the USTRIVE project at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA. The USTRIVE project (Understanding STEM Teaching Through Integrated Contexts in Everyday Life) offers professional development on creating lessons grounded in relevant social and scientific problems in the local community for STEM educators in the Philadelphia area. 

Becky earned her doctorate from Antioch University New England where she studied the effects of what she termed "a profound experience with nature," an experience that shifts an individual's view of or relationship with the natural world.

Becky lives in central NJ, serving on her town's environmental commission and the school's wellness and sustainability council. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her two favorite little people. 

Resources shared by Becky:

Study that found that creek sounds (water) can induce changes in blood flow in the brain indicative of a relaxed state

https://environhealthprevmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s12199-009-0091-z

Study on postoperative coronary bypass graft patients listening to ocean sounds at night in the recover ward—better sleep depth, quality of sleep 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1307884/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1617138121001576

Human-nature connection and soundscape perception: Insights from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Conducted surveys on nature relatedness and soundscape perception in Argentina and found hearing was of secondary importance to vision in experiences of nature and nature relatedness was positively correlated with the valuation of soundscapes.

https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing

https://mymodernmet.com/nature-sounds-health-study/

https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2013097118

https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/

https://positivepsychology.com/positive-effects-of-nature/#positive-effects

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.764224/full?&utm_source=Email_to_authors_&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=T1_11.5e1_author&utm_campaign=Email_publication&field=&journalName=Frontiers_in_Psychology&id=764224

Intro/Outro Music:

Half Moon Island

https://halfmoonisland.bandcamp.com/