IGDC Members at YorkTalks 2019

IGDC member, Professor Kate Pickett (Department of Health Sciences) and IGDC Co-director, Professor Piran White (Department of Geography and Environment), participated as speakers at this year’s YorkTalks, a day of inspirational short talks showcasing the world-leading research at the University of York.

Kate’s talk ‘Failing the future - childhood in an unequal world’ focussed on Kate’s research over the last ten years in partnership with researchers in Bradford, including the Born in Bradford project, an extensive study which aims to unravel the causes of poor health and wellbeing in the city. Referencing Phillip Alston’s damning UN report on poverty in Britain at the end of 2018, Kate also highlighted the social impacts of austerity measures and the political nature of these issues.

Piran’s talk, ‘Realising the power of nature for mental health’, explored the impact of environmental conditions on our mental health. From access to green spaces to natural disasters and ecosystem degradation,  the way in which we interact with the natural environment can have both positive and negative effects on wellbeing. The soon-to-be-launched ‘Closing the Gap Network’ will explore how nature-based interventions may play an important role in the treatment of mental health conditions.