CSDE Affiliate Gregory Bratman has collaborated with experts in the field of olfaction to create a conceptual framework for the consideration of how the smells of nature can affect human well-being via the olfactory pathway. Recently, Dr. Bratman joined the broadcast “Think Out Loud” with host Dave Miller on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). The olfactory pathway has been understudied in the field of nature and health, and the sense of smell is also often undervalued in general in Western cultures (though increased attention has been brought to it since the COVID-19 pandemic). Dr. Bratman discusses the multidisciplinary working group he recently gathered together and helps to lead on this topic, and how much research has been done on this subject as a whole. He also discusses the conceptual framework he and his co-authors developed in their published paper, “Nature and Human Well-being: The Olfactory Pathway” from Science Advances that was mentioned in a recent edition of CSDE News & Events.

CSDE Affiliate Clara Berridge was recently interviewed on BBC radio 4’s new show, “The Artificial Human.” In the segment, “The Artificial Human, Can AI Look After Me in Old Age?”, Dr. Berridge speaks about the disconnects between what elder care technology offers and what people say they want in terms of privacy, control, and regulation. Oftentimes, elder care technology is designed more for the caregiver in mind, rather than the person being monitored. The hosts of this show, Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong, set out to “solve” AI and answer the most prevalent questions surrounding artificial intelligence. Dr. Berridge provides valuable insights and information as a gerontologist and discusses ageism in technology.