‘Brains at the Bevy’ pub lecture explores connection between water and human health

Have you have ever felt better just by being next to the sea? Why does the simple presence of an expanse of water seem to have such a positive effect? These are the questions that geographer and senior lecturer Dr Catherine Kelly will be answering at the next “Brains at the Bevy” talk.

Dr Kelly, who works with the Environment Agency’s National Blue Space Forum, has been investigating how seas, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies can improve people’s mental and physical health. Her research shows that, for some people, there will be physical benefits, related to movement; for others, the benefits may be stress-relief related, or indeed, social, through connections and communities of other blue space users.

As an experienced researcher and wellbeing practitioner who sits on the executive board of the Sussex UNESCO Biosphere ‘The Living Coast’, Catherine has also been gathering insights from eight national workshops that examined inequality of access to water for wellbeing which she will be sharing at the award-winning community event.

Dr Kelly who is also the author of a bestselling book, ‘Blue Spaces: How and Why Water Can Make You Feel Better’ said: "Blue Spaces are central to our human health and well-being. How policy makers, researchers and communities come together will determine the social, psychological and physical well-being impacts of water in our lives.

“In this talk, we will explore our human relationship with water and how it affects our wellbeing on various levels. We also think about who accesses blue spaces and who may not. We are really looking forward to bringing our research to a public audience at the Bevy."

Despite all the benefits derived from being in or near water, accessibility still remains a challenge for many people.

To explore how this inequality manifests one particular demographic - people with visual impairments – researcher Sadie Rockcliffe, will discuss her work that challenges the often-forgotten area of sensory inequalities and accessibility, focusing in particular on outdoor swimming experiences and challenges.

The two presenters, Catherine and Sadie, will touch on our other university-funded research projects that link blue space wellbeing to environmental activism, social-prescribing and to the arts in Brighton.

Book your place for free and join us for an evening of research, discussion, and blue space calm!

About Brains at the Bevy

The award-winning ‘Brains at the Bevy’ programme is a series of talks by University of Brighton academics together with experts from the community.

These talks will take place at The Bevendean Community Pub in Moulsecoomb and are open to all. They start at 6pm and last up to an hour and a half, and include lots of time for questions and discussion. Guests are welcome to stay on afterwards to enjoy food and drink available at the Bevy.