Centre Connecting Humans and Nature (CCHN) studies people’s connectedness with nature in different contexts and over the human life course. The mission is to contribute to connecting humans and nature through research and by organising and encouraging dialogues within and between science and society. CCHN focuses on connecting humans and nature through childhood & life course and through practice & perception. CCHN is based at the Institute for Science in Society. Follow CCHN on X.
Centre Connecting Humans and Nature
Connecting Humans and Nature, from childhood experiences to engaged citizenship
- Duration
- 2018
- Project type
- Research
- Organisation
- Institute for Science in Society, Faculty of Science
Highlights
Projects
Researchers at CCHN are working on the following research projects.
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FLOW
In contribution to the EU mission Restore our Oceans and Waters by 2030, FLOW is an international and interdisciplinary project studying young generations relations and engagement with water and oceans, their expectations and emotions.
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WildlifeNL
WildlifeNL is dedicated to the search for new forms of wildlife management. The goal is to develop new technologies, governance arrangements and communication strategies, to enable a low-conflict coexistence of humans and wildlife.
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EnviroCitizen
The EnviroCitizen project uses birding activities to study how citizen science can foster environmental citizenship. It aims to develop community interventions across Europe, using an educational programme and public events.
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Visions of Nature in Indonesia
A collaborative project between Indonesia and the Netherlands is investigating how Indonesian cultures and religions influence their relationship with nature.
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Mourning for Deserted Skies
The 'Mourning for Deserted Skies' project investigates how digital platforms influence emotional responses to biodiversity loss among citizen scientists.
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Visions of Nature in the Metropolitan City of Lima
This project investigates citizens' views of nature in Lima, Peru and compares the results with studies from the Netherlands and Vietnam. A subproject uses poetry as a tool in biology education to enhance students' understanding of nature.
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From Childhood Experiences to Engaged Citizenship
This project explores how childhood experiences with nature impact ecological citizenship in adulthood, using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Publications
In the following list, you can find the international peer reviewed articles of the last years.
- van Heel, B. F., van den Born, R. J. G., Aarts, M. N. C. (2023)
Nature Experiences in Childhood as a Driver of Connectedness with Nature and Action for Nature: A Review
Ecopsychology - Ganzevoort, W., Talivee, E.-M., Laksfoss Cardozo, A.-E., Graesse, M.K., Ábrán, Á., Villanueva Romero, D., Contreras Ameduri, A., & Van den Born, R.J.G. (Accepted). Participatory Bird Events in Five European Countries: A Summary Report
EnviroCitizen Deliverable D3.2
- Verploegen, H. (2022)
Archiving (lost) nature: Hybrid experiences and memorization through participatory digital archives
Journal of Environmental Media - Calderon Moya-Mendez, N., Ganzevoort, W., Lenders, R., Van den Born R. J. G. (2022)
Going Beyond the Instrumental View on Nature and the Human–Nature Relationship: Visions of Nature of the Metropolitan Population of Lima, Peru
Ecopsychology - van Heel, B. F., van den Born, R. J. G., Aarts, M. N. C. (2022)
Everyday childhood nature experiences in an era of urbanisation: an analysis of Dutch children’s drawings of their favourite place to play outdoors
Children's Geographies - Van den Born, R. J. G., Ganzevoort, W., Talivee, E.-M., Laksfoss Cardozo, A. -E., Ábrán, Á., Villanueva Romero, D., Contreras Ameduri, A., Van der Wal, R, Lundquist, E. (2022)
Love, Learning and Care for Birds - Ornithological citizen science as a pathway to environmental citizenship
Report
- Ganzevoort, W., & van den Born, R. (2021).
Groene vrijwilligers in de schijnwerpers
Vakblad Natuur Bos Landschap - Ganzevoort, W. (2021).
Groene vrijwilligers: Wie zijn ze, wat drijft hen?
De Levende Natuur - Verploegen, H., Ganzevoort, W., & van den Born, R. (2021)
Affordances and tensions in recording bird observations: how coordinators and volunteers perceive and experience citizen science in birding
Journal of Science Communication - Ganzevoort, W. (2021).
Green volunteers in the spotlight: Understanding action for nature through studying citizen scientists and other nature volunteers
Doctoral dissertation, Radboud University - Ganzevoort, W., & van den Born, R. J. G.
Counting Bees: Learning Outcomes from Participation in the Dutch National Bee Survey
Sustainability
- Bosschaart, W., Aarts, N., van den Born, R.J.G. (2020)
Towards a Sustainable Landscape: Constructing Identities and Ambitions in a Citizen Initiative in the Making
Sustainability - Mattijssen, T.J.M., Ganzevoort, W., van den Born, R.J.G., Arts, B.J.M., Breman, B.C., Buijs, A.E., van Dam, R.I., Elands, B.H.M., de Groot, W.T., & Knippenberg, L.W.J. (2020)
Relational values of nature: leverage points for nature policy in Europe
Ecosystems and People - Ganzevoort, W. & van den Born, R.J.G. (2020)
Understanding citizens' action for nature: The profile, motivations and experiences of Dutch nature volunteers
Journal for Nature Conservation - Fornara, F., Molinario, E., Scopelliti, M., Bonnes, M., Bonaiuto, F., Cicero, L., Admiraal, J., Beringer, A., Dedeurwaardere, T., de Groot, W., Hiedanpaa, J., Knights, P., Knippemberg, L., Ovenden, C., Polojnar Horvat, K., Popa, F., Porras-Gomez, C., Smrekar, A., Soethe, N., Vivero-Pol, J. Van den Born, R., Bonaiuto, M. (2020)
The extended Value-Belief-Norm theory predicts committed action for nature and biodiversity in Europe
Environmental Impact Assessment Review
- Van Herzele, A. & N. Aarts (2019).
Arguing along fault lines: a rhetoric of public debate over wildlife comeback.
Conservation & Society - Molinario, E., Kruglanski, A.W., Bonaiuto, F., Cicero, L., Fornara, F., Scopelliti, M., Admiraal, J., Beringer, A., van den Born, R.J.G., Dedeurwaerdere, T., de Groot, W.T., Hiedanpää, J., Knights, P., Knippenberg, L., Ovenden, C., Polajnar Horvat, , Popa, F., Porras-Gomez, C., Smrekar, A., Soethe, N., Vivero-Pol, L., Bonaiuto, M. (2019)
Motivations to act for the protection of nature and biodiversity: A Matter of “Significance”
Environmental and Behavior - Duong, N.T. & van den Born, R.J.G. (2019)
Thinking about Nature in the East: An Empirical Investigation of Visions of Nature in Vietnam
Ecopsychology - Ganzevoort, W. & van den Born, R.J.G. (2019)
The thrill of discovery: Significant nature experiences among biodiversity citizen scientists
Ecopsychology - Ganzevoort, W. & van den Born, R.J.G. (2019)
Exploring place attachment and visions of nature of water-based recreationists: The case of the longitudinal dams
Landscape Research
- Aarts, N. (2018).
Dynamics and dependences in socio-ecological interactions (Dynamiek en dependentie in socio-ecologische interacties).
Nijmegen, Radboud University, inaugural lecture upon taking up the post of Professor Soci-Ecological Interactions at ISiS on 26 October 2018. - Scopelliti, M., Molinario, E., Bonaiuto, F., Bonnes, M., Cicero, L., De Dominicis, S., Fornara, F., Admiraal, J., Beringer, A., Dedeurwaerdere, T., de Groot, W., Hiedanpää, J., Knights, P., Knippenberg, L., Polajnar Horvat, K., Popa, F., Porras-Gomez, C., Smrekar, A., Soethe, N., Vivero-Pol, J., van den Born, R.J.G. & Bonaiuto, M. (2018)
What makes you a ‘hero’ for nature? Sociopsychological profiling of leaders committed to nature and biodiversity protection across seven EU countries
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management - van den Born, R.J.G., Arts, B., Admiraal, J., Beringer, A., Knights, P., Molinario, E., Polajnar Horvat, K., Porras-Gomez, C., Smrekar, A., Soethe, N., Vivero-Pol, J.L., Ganzevoort, W., Bonaiuto, M., Knippenberg, L., de Groot, W.T. (2018)
The missing pillar in the justification of nature conservation
Journal of Environmental Planning and Management - Drenthen, M. (2018).
ewilding in layered landscapes as a challenge to place identity
Environmental Values - Knippenberg, L., de Groot, W.T., van den Born, R.J.G., Knights, P., & Muraca, B. (2018)
Relational value, partnership, eudaimonia: a review
Current opinion in environmental sustainability
Student Theses
Students from Radboud University or other universities can carry out their student projects or internships at the CCHN. Sometimes we have specific research questions to be addressed. Below are a few examples of student projects.
About CCHN
Centre Connecting Humans and Nature (CCHN) is based at the Institute for Science in Society and is part of the Faculty of Science of the Radboud University Nijmegen.
Riyan van den Born is director of the CCHN and Noelle Aarts is scientific advisor.
Funding
The CCHN is an initiative of the Foundation Endowed Chair (Stichting Bijzondere Leerstoel) and is financed by IVN Nature Education, Natuurmonumenten, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, Staatsbosbeheer, WWF and Radboud University.
The sounding board of CCHN consists of José Koopman (Natuurmonumenten), Marjolein Kloek (Staatsbosbeheer), Kris van Koppen (Stichting Bijzondere Leerstoel en Natuurbeheer), Noa Dunnewind (Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds), Joline de Weerdt (IVN Nature Education) en Monique Grooten (WWF).
Contact information
If you have any questions, please contact CCHN director Riyan van den Born.