Relational approaches to planetary health
My research considers the potential of community-based, relational approaches to healing ourselves, our communities, and our planet. These approaches are grounded in cultivating relationships and build resilience across social and ecological systems. Examples include:
- Gardening for human and ecological wellbeing
- Soil health and regenerative agriculture
- Care farming
- Ecovillage health systems
- Mutual aid initiatives
- Community care for mental illness
Healthy and sustainable post-growth futures
Our current growth-centric economic system erodes the ecological foundations of health. The transition to a post-growth world is possible and necessary, but will require navigating many complex challenges. My research considers themes such as:
- The relationship between economic growth and health
- Wicked problems associated with long-term economic contraction
- Appropriate health technologies and health system structures for a post-growth world
Social-ecological systems change for sustainability, health, and equity
Although processes of change within complex systems are highly unpredictable, promising practices can help us steward systems transformations towards desirable outcomes. My work explores:
- The dynamics of change in linked human and ecological systems
- The role of human agency in stewarding complex systems transformations
- Promising systems change strategies for cultivating human and planetary health