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Research ideas can come from anywhere. Bella Totten ’27, a biological chemistry student, first learned about forest bathing while working at Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) and is now completing a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) about the physiological benefits of spending time outdoors.

Incidental Inspiration

Totten learned about the practice of immersing herself in nature to step back from external stress while working as a health promotion assistant for SHAW and soon invited friends to join. It grew into a consistent group, and Totten says, “During semesters when my academic load was heavy, it was a time in which I could see my friends and chill out in the forest and has become much more since!”

At the bio seminar, where professors shared their summer research opportunities, Professor Liz Queathem, interim director of the Center for Prairie Studies, presented her idea about the physiological impacts of spending time outdoors, which fit perfectly with Totten’s interests.  

A New Environment

While there is research on forest bathing, Totten and Queathem found their own focus. Totten says, “There aren’t a lot of studies that compare different outdoor environments. So, one of the more novel things is that our study compares forest and prairie environments. And I think that's very relevant to this area because there are not a lot of areas where you can see prairies like this.”

Totten studies the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, before and after participants spend time at the sites. On days when she collects data, Totten either goes out to Conard Environmental Research Area (CERA) to set up in Wilson Prairie or the oak-hickory forest; the ɬ�﷬ Field House on campus serves as her indoor control. She takes a few participants at a time and collects saliva samples at different times while they spend 20 minutes reflecting in the environment.

“One of the things that surprised me is just how difficult it was to find prairie land that’s big enough for people to feel immersed in it,” Totten says, noting how prairie conservation has become an important lesson from this project.

Realities Outside the Classroom

Another important realization is just how tricky working with people can be. This is Totten’s first project with human subjects, and she’s found it a fun challenge. Totten is familiar with many parts of research including experimental design and literature review from her coursework at ɬ�﷬, but she has had to learn new skills for this study.  

“Sometimes I just sit and like send like 30 emails to people being like, hey, are you interested? I guess that was kind of unexpected, but I think valuable, because that can really be applied to whatever area that you’re going into.”  

Not only is recruiting participants a new step, but Totten has also learned how to juggle individual work schedules and cyclical changes in cortisol levels throughout the day. She sets up her field sites early in the morning and even goes out on weekends when it works better for her participants. When thinking about the experience so far, Totten says, “It can be difficult to ask people to donate their time, but I am so thankful for everyone that has participated so far!”

Interdisciplinary Applications

A 10-week MAP over the summer is a great starting point for student research, and Totten is already thinking about where the project can go next.  

“One of the things that I found that really fascinates me is just how interdisciplinary this study can be,” Totten says. She explains how cortisol levels relate to things like insulin resistance and associated diseases, which are major public health issues. These long-term impacts can then spur urban planning design to focus on green space and highlight the importance of preserving the spaces we already have.  

Totten hopes she or others can continue the research to explore these links. She says, “I started with this interest in how human health relates to environmental health and now I see they are much more interconnected than I initially thought.”