A PhD in Environmental Psychology at Bangor University, exploring how the richness and decline of natural soundscapes shape human psychological and physiological health.
Natural soundscapes, including flowing water, wind, and the songs of birds and insects, are in decline across urban and rural environments alike. At the same time, there is growing evidence that these sounds play a significant role in human psychological restoration and wellbeing. Yet the specific relationship between natural sound richness and human health outcomes remains poorly understood.
This PhD sits at the intersection of environmental psychology, psychoacoustics and conservation ecology. Using a combination of laboratory experiments, physiological monitoring and outdoor field studies, I am building an evidence base for how the acoustic richness of natural soundscapes affects human mood, stress, attention and restorative experience. Birdsong is used across the studies as a primary proxy for nature sounds, given its measurability, ecological significance, and the depth of existing psychoacoustic literature around it.
The research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS) Collaborative Award, in partnership with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Cymru.
Practically, this work has implications for urban planning, green space design, public health policy and conservation strategy. If birdsong diversity is demonstrably good for people, the case for protecting and restoring natural soundscapes becomes not just ecological but medical.
The PhD comprises three interlinked experiments, each examining a different dimension of the nature sound/wellbeing relationship. Click any card to read the full study description.
Does the richness of natural soundscapes affect psychological wellbeing? A lab-based VR study using bird species as a proxy for nature sound diversity.
Read study details Data collectedCan urban noise cancel out the benefits of nature sounds? A psychoacoustic study using birdsong as proxy, combining self-report measures with thermal imaging.
Read study details Data collectedA randomised outdoor study at Treborth Botanic Garden, Bangor. Data collection complete with 105 participants across three groups, exploring emotions, perception and cognition through mindful engagement with natural soundscapes.
Read study detailsResearch Fellow, Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University
Bangor University
British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)