Science in the Wild I

Event 1: Saturday, 18 October

Chat with the research team about how we study the impact of nature on mental health using smartphone apps

Explore our findings from previous projects on the benefits of city nature, including the surprising power of birdsong

Be invited to download the Citizen Scientist app and explore the NatureBoost study – try it out for yourself and begin your journey as a citizen scientist. Participation is completely voluntary and anonymous.

Join a guided ecology walk around the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve and learn about the projects at the site, including a medicinal garden and mushroom farm

Take part in hands-on nature activities and share your reflections with the group

Event 2: Saturday, 8 November

We warmly invite participants from Event 1 to return and uncover what happened when you used the app over the three weeks in between. See how your contributions are transformed into real scientific insights, and explore photos, sounds and reflections captured through the app.

Join a discussion with researchers and fellow participants about the results, the experience of using the app, and the wider question of how urban nature can improve everyday wellbeing.

If you missed Event 1, don’t worry: the guided walks, interactive talks, and app-based activities will all be repeated, so new participants can join in and take part.

Across both events you will play an active role in science, not just observe it. By taking part in NatureBoost, you will contribute to a growing body of research on how urban nature influences wellbeing. This research helps scientists and policymakers understand why access to green spaces matters in cities like London, and how everyday experiences – from hearing birdsong to noticing trees on your commute – can support mental health. Your participation will not only give you new ways to connect with nature, but also help shape how we design healthier urban environments in the future.

Tea, coffee, and snacks will also be provided.

Find out more about the NatureBoost project here: www.natureboostproject.com

What does nature have to do with smartphones? And did you know that listening to birdsong can have a lasting impact on your mental health?

Join us at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve in London for a two-part interactive event that brings science to life. Together we will explore how everyday encounters with trees, green spaces and birdsong can support wellbeing — and how smartphones are helping researchers uncover these links in real time.

This is your chance to become a citizen scientist. By taking part in the NatureBoost study, you’ll use your phone to log simple activities in nature, share your discoveries, and see how your own experiences can contribute to scientific research at King’s College London.

Lea Baecker, Scientist at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London

Dr Stefania Tognin, Scientist at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London

Dr Ryan Hammoud, Scientist at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London

Maisie Khan, Scientist at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London

Michael Smythe, Co-Founder of the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve

The event is open to all.

The event is open to all. Families are welcome.

The minimum age for participation in the app-based study ‘NatureBoost’ is 16 years old, but the other activities at the event are also open to younger people.

This is a two-part event. You can attend either one or both of these events.

We particularly invite attendees of Event 1 who have downloaded the ‘Citizen Scientist’ app and participated in the ‘NatureBoost’ study to come back to Event 2 to share their experiences and hear about the study results.

Event 1: Saturday 18 October 2025, 2pm-4pm

Event 2: Saturday 8 November 2025, 2pm-4pm

Bookings will close when at capacity (50 attendees per day)