ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s 2024-25 Environmental Lecture Series, featuring a theme of “Environment and People,” will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 20, with a special presentation by Kristi Lekies, Ph.D., an associate professor at Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. She will present “Nature Experiences Across the Life Span: Exploring Pathways of Possibility,” at Ronk Lecture Hall inside AU’s Dwight Schar College of Education at 7:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. There is also an option to attend via a webinar; participants must register at this link for the webinar.

There is a lot of research documenting the benefits of nature for human health and well-being in childhood. Lekies will explore how these benefits can be also experienced across the life span, as well as in ways that also contribute to the health and well-being of ecosystems. Learn about lifelong impacts of nature, ways of discovery and actions we can take to make a difference.

Lekies has been a member of the Ohio State faculty since 2006. Her research focuses on experiences of place with a special emphasis on children and youth from early childhood through young adulthood. She studies individuals’ experiences in natural settings, geographical communities and community-based educational and recreational programs.

Lekies teaches courses for both undergraduate and graduate students. In addition to numerous scholarly publications, she produced Youth Beat Radio for Columbus radio stations from 2009-22. This program featured youth leadership, community service, community action and youth perspectives, while providing an opportunity for students interested in media production.

More information about the 2024-25 Environmental Lecture Series and all three of this spring’s events is available at ashland.edu/environmental-lecture-series.

“For more than 30 years, the AU Environmental Lecture Series has connected AU students, faculty and members of the North Central Ohio community with leaders and experts in environmental problems and solutions,” said Patty Saunders, Ph.D., who serves as director of the environmental science program and professor of biology. “This year, we are excited to learn more about the more personal impacts of natural areas and how these responses are studied. Examples of how people interact with nature include walking through city parks, watching local wildlife and visiting the magnificent of U.S. National Parks.”

Current support for the AU Environmental Lecture Series is provided by donations from individuals and support from Ashland University, while previous series have been supported by AU and grants from the National Science Foundation, the Lubrizol Foundation, the GTE Foundation and the Fran and Warren Rupp Foundation.