Public Defence: Elena Brambilla

Elena Brambilla will defend her PhD degree in Person, Health and Society. Her dissertation explores virtual reality as a tool to reconnect people with nature.

05 Dec

Practical information

  • Date: 5 December 2025
  • Time: 10.00 - 15.00
  • Location: Drammen, Auditorium A5508 and Zoom
  • Download calendar file
  • Organizer: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences

    • Link to digital participation (Zoom)

    Meeting ID: 619 6566 3489
    Password: 051225
     

    Program 

    10.00 Trial Lecture: “Equity and ethics of ‘digital nature’: access, inclusivity, and unintended consequences of immersive virtual nature interventions”

    12.00 Public Defence: «From virtual to reality – Connecting with nature through immersive virtual nature»

    The public defence will be hosted by Professor Bente Berget.

    Assessment committee

    • First opponent: Senior Lecturer Annalisa Setti, University College Cork (Ireland)
    • Second opponent: Professor Simone Grassini, University of Bergen
    • Administrator: Professor Femke Beute, University of South-Eastern Norway          

    Supervisors

    • Main supervisor: Professor Giovanna Calogiuri, University of South-Eastern Norway  
    • Co-supervisor: Professor Vibeke Sundling, University of South-Eastern Norway  
    • Co-supervisor: Professor Karen Stendal, University of South-Eastern Norway  
Any questions?

Elena Brambilla is defending her dissertation for the degree philosophiae doctor (PhD) at the University of South-Eastern Norway.

The doctoral work has been carried out at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.

You are invited to follow the trial lecture and the public defence.

SummaryBilde av Elena Brambilla

Can virtual reality help people reconnect with nature? 

This research shows that virtual experiences of nature can foster people’s psychological and physical connection to the natural world, a connection that is becoming harder to sustain in modern society.

Short virtual experiences of nature can increase well-being-related outcomes, such as people’s sense of connection to nature, positive emotions, and motivation to spend time outdoors. These effects were observed among both students and members of the public, suggesting that IVN (Immersive Virtual Nature) can engage diverse audiences. 

The project combined a systematic review and meta-analysis with experimental and field studies conducted in school and university settings. While several questions remain open and the additional benefits of virtual reality appear to be highly complex, the findings suggest that IVN could be a valuable tool for health promotion interventions, helping people experience psychological benefits similar to those found in real nature. 

The project outlines directions for future research and provides key recommendations for public and private organizations aiming to promote and enhance physical and mental health among individuals with diverse needs. While this technology cannot measure up to real nature experiences, it may play a role in motivating physical and emotional contact with nature—particularly among those who feel less connected to nature in their daily lives.