First Year Seminar 191CNS56 - FYS- Topics in CNS

First-year (R1ST) Title: A Daily Dose of Nature: Green Prescriptions for Climate Resilience

Description: You probably know that climate change causes soil erosion, biodiversity loss, crop damage and flooding, but you may not know that it also increases the prevalence of mental health and cardiovascular disorders. Have you ever found yourself physically and emotionally exhausted in the heat, or perhaps even a little anxious? Science says there's a reason! High levels of stress hormones are released during heat waves that mimic symptoms of anxiety, tricking your brain into thinking you really are anxious. Together, let's see what else science has to say about how changing climate influences our health and the environment and how we can build resilience by taking advantage of the ecosystem services nature has to offer! In this course, we'll explore green prescriptions like forest bathing, aromatherapy, sunlight therapy, urban forests and more. Like other First Year Seminars, we will also work together on developing skills that will help you succeed in your first semester at UMass Amherst.