Featured CIRM Researcher—Anna Maria Pálsdóttir, MSc, PhD
Nature-based interventions
Dr Pálsdóttir is a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) at the dep. of People and Society. She is a trained horticulturist and holds a BSc in biology & horticulture sciences and an MSc and PhD in landscape planning and environmental psychology. She holds a PhD and an associate professor degree in landscape architecture and environmental psychology.
Pálsdóttir works with research on nature-based interventions such as pedagogy, vocational training, therapy, and rehabilitation. She works with conceptual development of nature-based and nature-assisted interventions for different target groups. Dr Pálsdóttir also researches the content and design of sustainable health-promoting outdoor environments for human health and well-being. The research is undertaken closely with national and international universities, governmental offices and NGOs. She has a long-term collaboration with the healthcare authorities in the county of Skåne/Scania and was part of the team implementing nature-based therapy into healthcare and responsible for the quality assurance system for the agricultural business providing NBT services. Today, as a university representative, she works with quality assurance/inspection of the business providing nature-based therapy.
Dr Pálsdóttir is one of the founders of the master program Outdoor Environments for Health and Well-being https://student.slu.se/en/studies/courses-and-programmes/masters-programmes/outdoor-environments-for-health-and-well-being-masters-programme/ in collaboration with other of educators and SLU and other universities built up courses on nature-based and nature and animal assisted interventions as well sensory expression in an outdoor environment. She has a vast teaching experience at both master’s and doctorate levels
Dr Pálsdóttir has a wide range of publications from reports, book chapters, scientific articles and popular scientific texts. She has an international reputation as an expert in nature-based therapy and has a vast network of collaborations worldwide. She is often invited as a key-note speaker at national and international conferences and as lecturer for students at different universities, national and international
