Developing marker technologies to probe complex polymers and products

Chemistry and Polymer Scienc

Nature doesn't judge you – how urban nature supports young people's mental health and wellbeing in a diverse UK city

Reviewed research reveals a lack of young people's voices articulating if and how urban nature supports their mental health and wellbeing. This paper presents qualitative research with young multi-ethnic urban residents living in a northern UK city and offers an important counter-narrative to the pervasive notion of childhood nature-deficit disorder. Using interviews and creative arts workshops, we explored the value of urban nature for the mental health and wellbeing of 24 young people aged 17–27 years, 9 of whom had lived experience of mental health difficulties. Trees, water, open spaces and views were frequently experienced nature typologies offering benefits. Deteriorating landscapes, young people's shifting identities and perceived time pressures disrupted support. Young people expressed how urban nature encounters were experienced as accepting and relational, offering a: stronger sense of self; feelings of escape; connection and care with the human and non-human world

Students’ perceptions of green space on a university campus : an attention restoration theory perspective

Previous research has revealed that green spaces provide numerous benefits to human beings. One such benefit is the proven ability of green spaces to restore individuals’ attention capacities. However, there exists very little literature that examines these benefits in the context of tertiary education campuses. University campuses are hubs where full-time students spend many hours daily during the course of their studies and are therefore exposed to the benefits of the landscaping on their campuses. This study therefore aimed to determine the manner in which students at the University of Pretoria perceive the on-campus green spaces, specifically in terms of the restorative properties of these areas. Quantitative data collection strategies were utilised, yielding a final sample size of 286 participants. A survey was employed as the research design, and included both closed and open-ended questions. Results indicated a generally positive perception of the green spaces on campus. Students tend to enjoy spending time in green spaces and find all green spaces that were addressed restorative. The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden was rated as the most restorative green space on campus. Future research includes exploring the link between attention restoration and academic achievement of students in order to better understand the role green spaces play in this regard.Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014.lk2014PsychologyMAUnrestricte

The Moral Problematic as a Recurring Theme in Robert Louis Stevenson's Novels: The Master of Ballantrae and Kidnapped

This dissertation examines the theme of morality in Robert Louis Stevenson's "The Master of Ballantrae" and "Kidnapped", focusing mainly on the former novel. After a brief discussion of Stevenson's historical interests and of the the sources gathered by him for the writing of his Scottish novels, I proceed to an investigation of the main narrator of "The Master of Ballantrae", the unreliable Mackellar. I argue that Mackellar can be regarded as a dogmatic moralist whose ethical standards are first questioned, and then subverted by the character of James Durie. Subsequently, I analyze the main narrator of "Kidnapped", the seventeen-year-old David Balfour, and I claim that similarly to Mackellar, David also holds strict moral standards that gradually dissolve after he experiences significant historical and social events that contribute to his individual growth. I then conclude the dissertation by evidencing Stevenson's preoccupation with moral issues, which transpires both from his letters and prose, and by claiming that he disregarded a decontextualized morality based on prejudices and religious dogmatism

The relationship between students’ perceptions of the University of Pretoria’s on-campus green spaces and attention restoration

Previous research has suggested that natural green areas provide several psychological benefits to individuals. One such benefit is the restoration of attention capacities, an advantage that is of particular importance to university students. The present study, therefore, aimed to determine where students spend their free time on campus at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, how they perceive their on-campus green spaces and the extent to which they found these spaces restorative. Participants responded to a three-part questionnaire, investigating demographic characteristics, green space usage, and the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS). Statistical analyses were conducted to determine which of the green spaces contributed most significantly to overall PRS scores. All green areas made significant contributions, but the campus’s botanical garden was the greatest contributor to PRS. The findings of this study serve to encourage tertiary institutions to protect their green spaces, as the psychological well-being and attention restoration of students are affected by it