25 November 12.30pm – 1.30pm on TEAMSÂ
Register https://forms.office.com/e/wpKwzykS3g
Prof Ben Wheeler Environment, Health and Inequalities  NIHR Fellowship  Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences University of Exeter Medical School, Cornwall.
Accessing blues spaces for health and wellbeing
Abstract
Coastal communities face a range of challenges that have adverse impacts on public health. But coastal and other water-based environments can provide many opportunities for promotion of good health and wellbeing, through a range of possible mechanisms. In this talk I will present evidence on the relationships between blue space, health and wellbeing, and how this evidence relates to wider issues around the health of coastal communities. Considering the impact of this research, I will discuss how we might capitalise on these relationships to support and promote good health in coastal areas, and to promote the protection and improvement of our coasts and oceans.
Bio
Ben Wheeler is Professor in Environment, Health and Inequalities at the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (www.ecehh.org), at the University of Exeter Medical School (Penryn campus). Ben is a health geographer and environmental epidemiologist, and his research focuses on the adverse and beneficial impacts of the environment on public health and well-being. He has particular interests in nature-based solutions to promote public mental health and physical activity amongst multiple social and environmental benefits. He also has a focus on the relationships between green/blue infrastructure and health inequalities.
Ben currently holds an NIHR Population Career Health Scientist Award on “Tackling health inequalities through green/blue infrastructure” (2024-29). He also works on related topics within the Centre for Net Positive Health and Climate Solutions, working with the UK Health Security Agency, National Trust and Forest Research. Ben works with these and other partners to develop and translate evidence to inform public health and environmental policy. He was recently appointed to the Natural England Science Advisory Committee, and is co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Natural Environments and Health.  https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/4303-ben-wheeler
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