Janet Swim

Dr. Swim strives to build on our better nature for nature to create a more livable planet for all life now and in the future.

She uses experimental and survey research to examine the psychological underpinnings of people’s willingness to engage in personal and collective pro-environmental actions and support policies that affect natural processes and, by extension, all life. Her current research is exames 1) different ways people psychologically connect to and value nature, 2) the complexity of thoughts about the interface between human actions and natural processes, and 3) emotions about and anticipated positive and negative consequences of ecological solutions (e.g., policies).

She works in collaborative, interdisciplinary teams composed of natural scientists, social scientists, artists, and educators. Funded by NSF and the Belmont Forum, she is currently working with an international team to understand public perception of land use change and policies to address the impact of such land use on water quality.  In the past, she was been a part of NNOCI (National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation) where she and a team of other researchers evaluated a program to increase educators’ ability to talk about climate change at Zoos and Aquariums (NOCCI). On another project she and Ash Gillis worked with Mt. Cuba Center to  create a neighborhood “Growing Together” program to increase planting native plants in neighborhoods.