Claudia Tan is interested in both nature conservation and human wellbeing, Claudia is trained in environmental biology, with professional experiences in conducting research in enhancing human wellbeing, city liveability and biodiversity in academia, government, and tertiary education. It is through these experiences that reinforced her belief in the need for applied research and multidisciplinary collaboration to address the nature and urban wellbeing crisis.
Beyond peer-reviewed journal publications, Claudia contributed to translating this research to actionable recommendations on wellbeing-promoting green and blue spaces via co-facilitating workshops with statutory boards, academics, and environmental groups, and co-writing an insights piece for policymakers. In her current day job, Claudia supports the teaching of MSc students in pertinent conservation topics such as city-level environmental metrics, imparts critical skillsets such as social research and data analyses in R, and integrates her interest in the nature-wellbeing nexus in the field trips she accompanies the students to. She hopes to be part of advancing knowledge in the nature-health nexus with a multi-disciplinary, human-centric angle, and co-developing solutions using such science-based evidence and involvement with the people who can benefit from them.
Selected publications
Journal articles
Oh RRY, Y Zhang, LTP Nghiem, C-C Chang, CLY Tan, SA Quazi, DF Shanahan, BB Lin, KJ Gaston, RA Fuller, RL Carrasco, 2022. Connection to nature and time spent in gardens predicts social cohesion. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 74:127655, DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127655.
Tan CLY, C-C Chang, LTP Nghiem, Y Zhang, RRY Oh, DF Shannahan, BB Lin, KJ Gaston, RA Fuller & LR Carrasco, 2021. The right mix: residential urban green-blue space combinations are correlated with physical exercise in a tropical city-state. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 57: 126947. DOI: 10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126947.
Oh RRY, KS Fielding, C-C Chang, LTP Nghiem, CLY Tan, SA Quazi, Shanahan DF, KJ Gaston, RL Carrasco, RA Fuller, 2021. Health and Wellbeing Benefits from Nature Experiences in Tropical Settings Depend on Strength of Connection to Nature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(19):10149. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910149
Nghiem LTP, KL Wong, L Jeevandandam, C-C Chang, CLY Tan, Y Goh & LR Carrasco, 2021. Biodiverse urban forests, happy people: Experimental evidence linking perceived biodiversity, restoration, and emotional wellbeing. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 59: 127030. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127030.
C-C Chang, RRY Oh, LTP Nghiem, Y Zhang, CLY Tan, BB Lin, KJ Gaston, RA Fuller, RL Carrasco, 2020.Life satisfaction linked to the diversity of nature experiences and nature views from the window. Landscape and Urban Planning, 202:103874, DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103874.
Conference paper/poster
Tan CLY & RL Carrasco. Human wellbeing & Leisure in Urban nature: Emerging links between nature-based activities and health. Poster presented at Nature-based Solutions Conference 2024, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, London.