Dr Melissa Marselle

Personal statement:

I’m a environmental psychologist with expertise in the application of psychological theory and methods to biodiversity conservation questions. Collaborating with ecologists, I use quantitative methods to assess mental health & wellbeing impact of biodiversity, and use qualitative methods to apply behaviour change theory to conservation problems.

I was a collaborating author of the IPBES Values Assessment, co-author of a WHO report on blue and greenspace and mental health, and sit on the British Psychological Society’s Climate Environment Action Coordinating Group. I am an Associate Editor the British Ecological Society journal People and Nature.

Key topic areas of research or interest:

My research interests focuses primarily on two key topic areas:

(1) Biodiversity & behaviour change: Applying behaviour change theory to address biodiversity conservation problems. In particular, I audit national biodiversity policies to identify gaps and understand how to improve policies

(2) Biodiversity and mental wellbeing: Working with ecologists to understand the impact on mental health and well-being of contact with biodiversity (and different habitat types), and the mediating pathways of this relationship.

Collaboration opportunities:

I’m always open to collaborations, PhD projects, consultancy, media work and all other forms of engagement that link to my areas of research. Enjoy brainstorming with ecologists!

Publications:

*Biodiversity & Behaviour Change*
Addressing behavior in pollinator conservation policies to combat the implementation gap. Conservation Biology.
https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cobi.13581

The role of diverse values of nature in visioning and transforming towards just and sustainable futures. IPBES Values Assessment
https://zenodo.org/records/7701885

Applying the Behaviour Change Wheel to mitigate the biodiversity crisis. Handbook on Pro-Environmental Behaviour Change.
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-on-pro-environmental-behaviour-change-9781800882126.html

*Biodiversity and mental wellbeing*
Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework. Environment International.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021000441

The more the merrier? Perceived forest biodiversity promotes short-term mental health and well-being—A multicentre study. People and Nature.
https://besjournals.pericles-prod.literatumonline.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10564

Species richness is positively related to mental health – A study for Germany. Landscape and Urban Planning.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204621000475

Urban street tree biodiversity and antidepressant prescriptions. Scientific Reports.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79924-5

Urban green space soundscapes and their perceived restorativeness. People and Nature.
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10215

Does perceived restorativeness mediate the effects of perceived biodiversity and perceived naturalness on emotional well-being following group walks in nature? Journal of Environmental Psychology.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494416300275?via%3Dihub

How do different types and characteristics of green space impact mental health? A scoping review. People and Nature. https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pan3.10529

Green and blue spaces and mental health: new evidence and perspectives for action. World Health Organization Europe. https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289055666

Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change.
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-02318-8