For some, February feels like the longest month, but on the Hub, it has flown by with a flurry of new activity. Check out this month’s updates!
Hub User Spotlight
Meet Brian Steer – with a background in scientific research and instrumentation development for aerosol science and air quality monitoring, he is now plowing a new furrow in life after developing a deep appreciation for human health through his struggles recovering from disability with long covid.
What are your interests? Doing good and doing right in every given moment. Spontaneous experiences of positive engagement free from expectations. The mindful cultivation of unanticipated benefits. The continuous practice of self-development. Service and support to others. Reading and writing. Philosophy, systems science, psychology, embodied cognition, sci-fi. The outdoors, trees, sunshine, fresh air, peace. Wildlife photography and observations. Hiking, jogging, cycling. Meditation, qigong, music. Attending various webinars, courses, meetings and events such as the recently past and most wonderful Nova Annual Conference!
What are you working on that most excites you? A chapter for a conference’s proceedings following a talk I gave at the University of Antwerp titled “More Than Human: Non-Western Philosophies and the Environment.” I also recently submitted a book proposal seeking to demonstrate how our understanding of the world is more cultural than scientific, and how we may go about expanding our conceptual basis for apprehending and engaging with our surroundings.
What do you welcome Hub users to connect with you about? Anything and everything! But particularly health and the wider philosophical, cultural, and ecological contexts. I would be very happy to hear from anyone who would like any help along their own journey, and have a wide range of references and resources I would be delighted to share.
New Live Events!
Take the Poll: Hub Conversations and Mind-Body Practices
- “Coffee and Conversations” are casual monthly Zoom calls connecting Hub users around various themes, hot topics on the Hub, or a bit of both. We hope you’ll join us! What days and times work best for you? Please take a few seconds to respond to this poll.
- Another treat in store is a weekly yoga practice facilitated by Federica Lari. This one-hour mind-body practice invites all Hub users to connect with their heart center and inner wisdom to inform thinking and actions. Share your availability in this poll.
In Discussions
- “Schizophrenia is a Brain Disease” sparks conversation around the influence of Freudian pseudoscience on opinions about schizophrenia.
- The impact of unhealthy lifestyles and diets on the United States military’s ability to recruit and enlist troops.
- What if your daily local newsletter was coming from an AI “newsroom” that aggregates news for email newsletters across the country, all run by one software developer? Weigh in on it.
- Read and discuss the United Nation’s take on why designating observance days like Social Justice Day (February 20) are important.
- How we got to “now”… a personal reflection on how the United States and other countries have arrived at the current corporate/political climate.
…and many more in the Discussions page!
In Groups
- Nova4Nutrition – A recording from a policy debate on glyphosate; a call for collaboration on food justice systems; and a highlight of the book, Ultra-Processed People.
- Challenges Journal – A new paper delves into what it truly means to be connected with nature—and why so many in modern society have lost that bond.
- Earthrise Community (formerly Constellation Community) – A new year and a new name! Read all about it.
- Consciousness Conversations – Posts about planetary alignment, quantum mysteries, and “The Telepathy Tapes” podcast.
- Nova Meditations and Practices – Partake in the latest guided meditations.
…check out all the Groups (or create your own)!
In Events
- Today and tomorrow: APHA’s Climate, Health, and Equity Summit
- March 14: Neuro-Nurturing: Advancing Powerful Strategies for the Decade of the Child
- See more events and submit your own on our Community Calendar!
Hub Features & User Tips
- Tip for engagement: Tap into the great minds here on the Hub! Post your requests for information, research help, articles, etc., in a relevant group or discussion topic, or directly to your profile as a status update.
- Invite friends to join the Hub! Click on your profile photo, navigate down to “Email Invites,” and click “Send Invites.” Customize a message or just send the link – it’s easy!
- Just getting started on the Hub? Check out the Hub User Guide to watch a video or get step-by-step instructions.
Thank you again for being part of our community. We’d love to hear from you! Let us know how you like using the Hub, share your ideas and suggestions, or just say hello! Message Airynn Strout or Tolu Adewole on the Hub or email us at airynn@novainstituteforhealth.org or tolu@novainstituteforhealth.org.
Responses