Howdy David and others, There’s a lot of evidence that green regions in urban areas bring a sense of calmness to many individuals. Unfortunately, as an academic, I am (and I am sure many others are) bogged down with administrative things and I don’t get to spend the time outside as I did in earlier years. I also have a son who will start college soon and was talked out of marine biology by marine biology PhD students, claiming there is no future. Instead, his current intention is biotechnology. If biotechnology keeps him in the lab every day, I am quite sure that he’d be happier as a marine biologist since he loves to be outside in nature.
Cheers, Leon > On Nov 20, 2016, at 6:31 PM, Luis J. Villanueva <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > > I wonder whether ecologists, who may get to spend more time outside ("in > > nature"), are less susceptible to depression than researchers in other > > fields. > > Why? This seems to be based on an idea that nature cures all or that we all > derive healing from nature. I spent tons of time in the field, it didn't > help. Being outside for work is still work. > > A better work-life balance can help alleviate this pressure, something very > few people advocate for in this high-pressure environment. We all know PIs > that look down on students/researchers that invest a lot of time in other > aspects of life, be it family, volunteering, outreach, music, athletics, or > other hobbies. > > Depression is a disease like any other, something that works for one person > may not work for others. > > > > Luis > > > On Sat, Nov 19, 2016 at 11:16 PM, David Inouye <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > There's an interesting article in the latest issue of Nature about mental > health issues for scientists facing career pressures: > > http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v539/n7628/full/nj7628-319a.html > <http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v539/n7628/full/nj7628-319a.html> > > I wonder whether ecologists, who may get to spend more time outside ("in > nature"), are less susceptible to depression than researchers in other fields. > > -- > Dr. David W. Inouye > Professor Emeritus > Department of Biology > University of Maryland > College Park, MD 20742-4415 > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > Principal Investigator > Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory > PO Box 519 > Crested Butte, CO 81224 >
