Nature-Inspired Awe: Relationship with Transcendence and Ecological Care Across Cultures
Scoping review examining how awe-inspiring nature experiences relate to transcendence and environmental action.
Nature-Inspired Awe: Relationship with Transcendence and Ecological Care Across Cultures
Research Cluster
Project team
Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick (Centre for Wellbeing Science), Dr Melissa Pineda Pinto (Melbourne Centre for Cities), Professor Kathryn Williams (School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences), Dr Rachel Morgain (Melbourne Biodiversity Institute), Dr Rose Macaulay (Contemplative Studies Centre), Stephanie Campbell (Contemplative Studies Centre), Sarah Medcalf (Melbourne Diversity Institute)
Contact
Project summary
Experiences of awe in nature can shift how we see ourselves in the world—fostering connection, humility, kindness and care for the living systems around us. This interdisciplinary scoping review will examine how awe-inspiring nature experiences relate to transcendence (e.g., pro-social behaviours) and environmental action. The review will map nature-based awe experiences, examining their enablers, barriers and outcomes, including cultural and place variations. This foundational work will inform future interventions to cultivate transcendence and ecological care in diverse settings.
What are we interested in?
How is awe conceptualised and experienced across varied cultural, religious, Indigenous and interdisciplinary perspectives? What environmental characteristics are conducive to awe experiences, including ecosystem diversity and urban nature? How can nature-based awe enhance human-nature connections and promote ecological care among diverse groups?
The goals of our project
To conduct a rigorous scoping review that maps the interdisciplinary landscape of nature-inspired awe and its relationship to self-transcendence and ecological care. The project will identify knowledge gaps and build a new interdisciplinary team for longer-term projects.
Outcomes / activities
Findings will guide the design of awe-inspiring green spaces and inform educational programs that promote pro-social behaviour and ecological care. The project aims to develop a scoping review manuscript for a journal, a scholarly workshop with experts from diverse knowledge systems, and an industry workshop with stakeholders as well as public dissemination through media.