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Project title

Nature and Environment to Attain and Restore Health [ NEAR Health]

Primary Funding Agency

Environmental Protection Agency

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Health Service Executive (HSE)

Lead Organisation

National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG)

Lead Applicant

Caitriona Carlin

Project Abstract

The interconnectedness of human and environmental health requires a crosscutting approach. This proposal combines multidisciplinary expertise to engage communities in the natural environment to benefit their health and wellbeing. Health professionals, ecologists and marketing, innovation and social policy specialists have outlined 6 work packages to develop a framework for integrating health promotion and environmental awareness in Ireland. The main objective of the proposal is to apply a combination of tools will be used to appraise values, motivations and barriers of stakeholders to engage in outdoor and communal activities in their environment throughout their lifecourse. The team will then collaborate with policymakers, practitioners and communities and other stakeholders to explore the types and qualities of public spaces that can be used in the design and implementation of inclusive nature-based solutions to assist communities to attain, maintain and restore health. In this way it meets research needs of the EPA, HSE and goals of Healthy Ireland. This multidisciplinary appraisal presents a unique synergy for health professionals and ecologists in Ireland to build research capacity, and knowledge for communities, policy makers and practitioners to� �create an environment where every individual and sector of society can play their part in achieving a healthy Ireland�. Societal, Policy and Practice Impacts: The team will produce a final report, prepare briefs and action plans for sectors such as health care, health promotion, engineers, planners, communities, and voluntary groups. The action plans will indicate time frames and suggested leads for actions. Toolkits and web-based user guide will be targeted at such multi-level stakeholders. A DVD, a website, and display for festivals will be created. This will raise awareness across sectors and society of the need to link environment and wellbeing and the access points for people to begin taking action. Research Impacts: This is an evolving field, globally. While the current desk-study provides the groundwork for this proposal, this proposal will have greater impact, given its multidisciplinary team, and expertise. This proposal will build research capacity as it addresses key knowledge gaps and will result in 5 publications. Two � three papers will be submitted to open-access peer-reviewed journals during the course of the project. Specific journals have been named in relation to publishing the results from four work packages. The team will outline a framework for future research, including collaborating with others to submit an application to 2016-2017 Horizon 2020 call on Nature-based Solutions (Societal Challenge 5).

Grant Approved

�341,089.71

Research Hub

Healthy Environment

Research Theme

Health and well being

Start Date

01/02/2016

Initial Projected Completion Date

01/02/2019