Nature Rx

Nature Rx @ University of North Florida, Institute of Environmental Research and Education 

The University of North Florida's Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE) is an interdisciplinary unit dedicated to serving all students and faculty on campus. Our mission encompasses four key areas:

1. Environmental Student Programs: We offer a variety of initiatives such as the Environmental Leadership Program, Florida Field School, and Nature Prescription Trips, aimed at engaging students with environmental issues and leadership opportunities.

2. Interdisciplinary Environmental Research: Our research teams, composed of faculty from various disciplines, focus on topics like nature and health, coastal resilience, and more, fostering collaborative and impactful studies.

3. Community Outreach: We partner with numerous community organizations to extend our environmental efforts beyond the campus, promoting sustainability and environmental awareness in the broader community.

4. Curriculum Development: In 2020, we introduced a minor in Environmental Studies, and in 2025, we launched UNF’s first interdisciplinary degree. The Environmental Science B.S. degree has two concentrations: Environmental Natural Science and Environmental Principles and Practice. In just a few months, these programs have seen significant demand from students and employers, and will continue to strengthen the connection between the university and the community through the internship component and other experiential learning features built into the curriculum. 

UNF Nature and Health Center

In Fall 2025, the IERE Director was invited to establish Florida's Chapter of the Nature and Health Alliance at the University of North Florida, supported by designated funding. This new chapter, named the UNF Nature and Health Center, will focus on the Institute's four priorities, with a special emphasis on nature and health. Our current initiatives include:

• Project One Health Jax: Led by the Winston Family Foundation, this project aims to promote more green spaces and reduce screen time for downtown youth.

• Nature Rx (Prescribe Outside): In collaboration with healthcare and parks leadership, this initiative seeks to integrate nature into patient care and clinical settings from a lifestyle medicine and public health perspective.

• Nature's Indoor Healing (Bring Nature Indoors): This project focuses on greening indoor spaces where Americans spend over 90% of their time.

• Youth Environmental Leadership Program (YELP): This program is designed to develop youth leaders who can connect their peers to nature.