Dr. Sarah Chan
Dr. Sarah Chan
Chan Heng Chee Research Fellow, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore
Invited Speech: The effects of virtual nature on health: opportunities and challenges
Biography:
Dr. Sarah Chan is a Chan Heng Chee Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities (LKYCIC), in the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). She is an environmental psychologist that conducts research to understand the synergies and trade-offs between environmental sustainability, technological and urban development, and human well-being. She received her PhD from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Abstract:
Urbanization and digitalization have contributed to a physical and psychological disconnect between people and nature, which has detrimental consequences for both human and planetary health. Virtual technologies have introduced new and accessible ways of experiencing nature. This talk will share findings from a series of studies that examine the impacts of nature in Virtual Reality (VR) on health and well-being, highlighting both the benefits and challenges that virtual nature can have for human health.