Cathy Jordan, PhD is Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota and Principal Scientist at its Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. She also serves as Director of Research for a national nonprofit – the Children & Nature Network – which aims to lead a global movement to increase equitable access to nature so that children and natural places can

thrive. In the latter role, which she has held for over 10 years, she leads a team that locates, curates and summarizes the scientific research about children and families in nature, and translates the evidence for practitioner audiences. She co-founded the Teacher Field School, an intensive, experiential, nature-immersed professional development program to train

elementary teachers to confidently employ nature-based learning approaches across the curriculum. Cathy believes that the establishment of a strong connection to nature is not only critical to people’s wellbeing, but to their development of concern for our planet, and it is important to establish that connection in childhood.