People

Peter Kahn

Professor, Department of Psychology, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences 

Peter H. Kahn, Jr. is Professor in the Department of Psychology and the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, and Director of the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems (HINTS) Laboratory at the University of Washington. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the academic journal Ecopsychology. His research seeks to address two world movements that are powerfully reshaping human existence: (1) The degradation if not destruction of large parts of the natural world, and (2) unprecedented technological development, both in terms of its computational sophistication and pervasiveness. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. His publications have appeared in such journals as Science, Developmental Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction, Environmental Health Perspectives, Child Development, and Journal of Systems Software, as well as in such proceedings as CHI, HRI, and Ubicomp. His 5 books (all with MIT Press) include Technological Nature: Adaptation and the Future of Human Life (2011).

Carly Gray

Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology

Carly Gray is a fifth-year doctoral candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Washington. Her research aims to understand the effects of young people’s interactions with natural and digital environments on mental health and well-being, especially regarding the development of emotion regulation, coping, and resilience. Her research to date has investigated the importance of interaction with nature (a) for children during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (b) for adolescents in a group home context to enhance coping and resilience. She has also been part of conceptualizing and developing a new scale to measure the construct Presence. Previously, Carly has been a research assistant on an intervention study on family communication and conflict resolution, worked in adolescent inpatient mental health treatment, and worked as a multi-day kayak guide for a non-profit serving adolescents and young adults.

Chrystal Dunker

Ph.D. Student, Environmental Studies, Antioch University New England

Chrystal Dunker is a doctoral candidate in Environmental Studies at Antioch University New England. A former executive director of a regional non-profit environmental and outdoor education center in southern Minnesota, she brings her love of teaching and working with youth to her studies on human-nature interaction. Her research interests draw from the theoretical fields of ecopsychology and ecological psychology and are focused on the therapeutic, if not essential, mental, emotional, and social well-being outcomes derived from a human-nature relationship – particularly for children and especially for those considered at-risk. Her interest in working with Dr. Peter Kahn and the HINTS Lab centers on how nature interaction assists with coping and resilience for adolescents with trauma-informed backgrounds. She is deeply interested in exploring what having a nature language and associated interaction patterns allow us to communicate to others about the importance of a human-nature relationship for healing and human flourishing in light of an increasing decline in children’s experience with natural environments. 

Thea Weiss

Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology

Thea Weiss is currently a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology at the University of Washington. She received dual B.A.’s (2014) in Neuroscience and English Literature from the University of Southern California. She has done research in emotion and cognition as well as theory of mind, and has worked as both a certified personal trainer and as a Registered Behavior Technician assisting children with Autism. The questions now guiding her research center upon the precarious position humanity finds itself in as a result of our technological affordances and conveniences. She seeks to understand the human condition through two primary research trajectories: 1) The technological mediation of nature through Virtual and Augmented Reality, and 2) The human interaction with artificial agents embodied in robotic and virtual forms. As the human relationship to the physical and social world is progressively mediated through technology, an understanding of the developmental implications for such a paradigm shift in the lived experience of the human mind and body becomes increasingly necessary.

Edison (Yumeng) Qian

Masters Student, College of Education

Yumeng is a Master’s student in Learning Sciences & Human Development at the University of Washington. He received his B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Education, Community, and Organization from the University of Washington. In his honors Psychology thesis, Yumeng found that with a Chinese group of high school students, experiencing virtual reality of bountiful nature (vs. a window view of urban meagre nature) improved attention and reduced psychological stress. Yumeng is also interested in culturally relevant pedagogy, and aims to help educators build culturally diverse and culturally safe environments for students. He believes that nature and culture are two closely connected essential elements of people’s lives, and perceives culture as the nature of human beings. Yumeng hopes his research can help people preserve natural environments and cultural diversity.

Yuqi Huang

Masters Student, UW Global Innovation Exchange

Yuqi Huang is a second-year master’s student at the UW Global Innovation Exchange. She received her B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Journalism from Tsinghua University, while currently exploring the field of human-computer interaction. She is interested in the field of how humans interact with language and texts, and how it can be naturally supported by cutting-edge technologies. Her research experience includes, AI speech assistance, eye-tracking reading assistance, and more. Essentially, she believes that technology should evolve in ways that can benefit people. So from the beginning of 2023, she started exploring how technology can contribute to human well-being with members at HINTS lab.

Drew Schoenfeld

Postbac, Department of Psychology, Department of Economics

Drew Schoenfeld graduated from the University of Washington with B.A. degrees in psychology and economics. His primary interest lies in the intersection of behavioral economics and environmentalism. As a research assistant in the HINTS lab, Drew hopes to explore questions around consciousness and ecopsychology, such as: “what role do natural environments or experiences of Presence play in human flourishing?” and from this question, “what are the resulting implications for how we organize society?” In his free time, Drew enjoys writing music, rock climbing, and spending time in nature.

Miranda Cox

Undergraduate Student, Department of Psychology

Miranda Cox is an enthusiastic undergraduate at the University of Washington, obtaining a B.S. in Psychology and a research assistant at the HINTS lab. She earned a two-year degree in Early Childhood Education and has experience instructing young children in NAEYC-accredited childcare centers. Additionally, she has worked in schools and various community centers and is a trained volunteer instructor for the Roots of Empathy program designed by the author, educator, and child advocate Mary Gordon. Her research interests entail identifying and applying pro-social skills through interactive methods like role-play to create mainstream dialogue that enhances empathic behaviors. 

Daykia Knight

Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology

Daykia is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington pursuing her B.S. in psychology. Her research interests include college students’ racialized experiences and the promotion of mental health awareness for underrepresented students at large universities. As a McNair scholar and research assistant in the HINTS lab, Daykia is exploring the connections between nature and mental well-being and hopes to use her knowledge to promote healing for marginalized communities. Outside of lab, she enjoys sharing intentional conversations with her peers to understand and better appreciate the complexity of the human experience.

Tristan Regenold

Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology

Tristan is a second-year undergraduate student pursuing a B.A. in Psychology while exploring environmental studies and informatics. With a background as a swim instructor for young children, Tristan is passionate about working with kids and hopes to continue in this field. Growing up skiing and hiking, he experienced firsthand the psychological benefits of nature. While at the UW, he has grown interested in the intersection between the human mind and the environment. Joining the HINTS Lab, Tristan aims to deepen his understanding of nature’s impact on mental well-being and explore the psychological effects of interaction with nature technologies.

 

Gillian Sparks

Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology

Gillian is pursuing her B.A. in psychology and her minor in business at the University of Washington. Her interest in Presence and Interaction Pattern Theory is grounded in her experiences in nature, from an environmental camp at Islandwood, to visiting the diverse wildlife of Luangwa Valley in Zambia. She believes these opportunities to interact with more wild nature have played an important role in building her intrinsic care for the environment. In working with children as a swim instructor and Lego STEM teacher, Gillian has developed a passion for understanding how we learn from a young age and how we can be proactive about protecting psychological well-being. Gillian hopes to contribute to research that will emphasize the importance of fostering resilience from an early age and a deep sense of compassion for the natural world.

Trisha Thonupunoori

Undergraduate Student, School of Informatics

Trisha Thonupunoori (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing her B.S. in Informatics. Her academic journey has been shaped by a profound fascination with the intersections of technology, healthcare, psychological well-being, and nature. She is deeply passionate about understanding how technology can enhance human well-being and support environmental sustainability. Trisha is dedicated to seeking inventive ways to enhance human health through interaction with nature and technology. Outside of academics, she enjoys playing badminton, baking, and painting with her family and friends. 

Cristina Villavicencio

Undergraduate Student, School of Informatics

Cristina Villavicencio is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington pursuing her B.S. in Informatics and Psychology. She is specifically interested in UX design as she hope to improve human experiences when interacting technology through the innovation of evidence-based design. Through her previous work in non-profit organizations in the Philippines such as KadaKareer, she found a passion for research and educating students about careers in the digital industry. With this, she envisions a world of empathy where research is placed at the heart of designs and knowledge. In joining the HINTS Lab, Cristina aspires to deepen her understanding of human behavior and interaction with nature in this digital age. During her free time, she enjoys graphic design and bonding with her peers in both cultural and academic organizations.

Clarice Wang

Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology

Clarice Wang is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington, pursuing her B.A. in psychology and a minor in informatics. Clarice hopes to gain a deeper and more substantial understanding of human-nature interaction in a world where technology is continuously advancing in use and sophistication. She aspires to learn more about the importance of nature for human well-being and its impact on Presence and other psychological states, but also in the role that technology plays in nature and finding a balance between interacting with the two. Outside of the lab, Clarice enjoys mothering her 10-month-old kitten, tackling escape rooms, exploring restaurants around Seattle, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Annabelle Wiley

Undergraduate Student, School of Psychology

Annabelle Wiley is a fourth-year undergraduate departmental honors student at the University of Washington, pursuing her B.A. in psychology and a minor in nutrition. Annabelle joined the HINTS lab because it was at the intersection of her two research interests: nature and technology. Through her research, she hopes to develop a deeper understanding of how spending time in nature and using smartphones impacts college students’ mental health. She hopes to use this knowledge as she works towards pursuing her goal of becoming an adolescent therapist. Outside of the lab, Annabelle enjoys hiking, making crafts, and caring for her houseplants.