Dr Laura Harrison

Research

I carry out research on how ecosystems function and the services and benefits we get from nature. Much of my work involves communicating with and learning from non-academic stakeholders to improve how evidence is used in policy development and practice.

Health and environment

I am interested in the relationship between nature and health; particularly the mechanisms linking the quality of green and blue space, mental health and pro-environmental behaviour.  I am currently working with Piran White and Pete Coventry on the development of green social prescribing and making evidence about nature-based interventions more accessible.

I am also a co-director of a social enterprise, Leeds Mindfulness Co-operative CIC.  We provide accredited mindfulness, compassion and nature-based training for people living with chronic pain and ill health in Leeds and Bradford. We have a particular focus on tackling health inequalities. 

Food systems

I have worked on three interdisciplinary projects investigating food system fragility and systemic risk with Bob Doherty and Richard Friend, which involved running workshops and holding interviews with industry experts.  During this work I produced a report for Defra on the role of innovation in growing more fruit and vegetables in the UK.

Ecological risk assessment and land use

I develop indicators and metrics for use in Risk Assessments and Natural Capital Assessments, such as work for Unilever on improving indicators of chemical stress in freshwater.  My PhD investigated an invasive plant in Alaska, and I have been involved in several horizon scanning projects for new invasive species. I have also written briefing notes on ecological networks for landscape professionals and on biodiversity and planning for Members of Parliament.

Publications

• Harrison LJ, Coventry PA, Armitt H, Chew-Graham CA, Churchill R, Darcy PM, Dallimer M, Knowles^, S, and White PCL. 2023 Nature-based interventions for health and wellbeing: what works?  An interactive summary of evidence from recent systematic reviews. 
• Friend RM, Thiengburanathum P, Harrison LJ, Thiengburanathum P, Doherty B, Thankappan S. 2023 Participatory diagnosis of food systems fragility; perspectives from Thailand. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 7. doi:3389/fsufs.2023.989520
• Harrison LJ, Pearson KA, Wheatley CJ, Hill JK, Maltby L, Rivetti C, Speirs L, White PCL. 2022. Functional measures as potential indicators of down-the-drain chemical stress in freshwater ecological risk assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag. 18(5):1135–1147.
• Jones L, Boeri M, Christie M, Durance I, Evans KL, Fletcher D, Harrison L, Jorgensen A, Masante D, McGinlay J, et al. 2022. Can we model cultural ecosystem services, and are we measuring the right things? People and Nature. 4(1):166–179.
• Oliver TH, Doherty B, Dornelles A, Gilbert N, Greenwell MP, Harrison LJ, Jones IM, Lewis AC, Moller SJ, Pilley VJ, Tovey P, Weinstein N. 2022. A safe and just operating space for human identity: a systems perspective. The Lancet Planetary Health. 6(11):e919–e927.