Written by guest contributor, Dr. Andrea Faber Taylor

Dr. Andrea Faber Taylor, Teaching Associate Professor of Horticulture, researches the benefits of greenspace exposure for children’s health and well-being. In spring semester 2025, she mentored two students in undergraduate research. The students conducted research studies and presented their work as a poster at the UIUC Undergraduate Research Symposium held in the Illini Union Ballroom on April 24^th. https://undergradresearch.illinois.edu/symposium.html

Victoria “Benny” Benavides interviewed educators at local schools to explore whether greenspaces at school can reduce the symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in youth. Benny presented a poster titled, Cultivating Healing: The Role of Greenspaces in Childhood Trauma Recovery at the symposium.  Benny’s poster was selected for the award of ‘Outstanding Poster Presentation’ for the event.

Keira Denker conducted a literature review exploring the evidence for nature’s equigenic effects (leveling up) on mental health in children living with disadvantage.  Keira presented a poster titled Nature is Nurture: Exploring Nature’s Equigenic Effects on Children’s Psychological Health

Keira also presented her poster at the International Children and Nature Network Conference, May 13^th – 16th in St. Paul, Minnesota. https://www.childrenandnature.org

Reflecting on her experience, Keira shares: “The Undergraduate Research Symposium was a big research milestone for me – condensing my research into a poster presentation was academically stimulating, and it was rewarding for my research to be presented alongside my research peers. And then I was able to take my research to an international conference and reach an even wider audience! As a result, the biggest takeaway for me that I want to pass on to others is to not be afraid to reach out to professors about research opportunities – if I had not done so, I would not have been able to experience those events.”

Congratulations Benny and Kiera for advancing the field of research demonstrating the value of Horticulture in supporting human health and well-being!