Webinar Series
Learning and Unlearning: Integrative Approaches to Understanding Environmentally Relevant Behavioral Mechanisms
Meredith Berry (University of Florida)
Abstract: Integrative and multidisciplinary training and research can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor, with scientific and personal decision-making implications. In this webinar, Dr. Berry will discuss her 1) various training and expertise including in behavior analysis, behavioral pharmacology, and natural resource conservation science; 2) the fusion of these research areas in her own work and resulting environmentally and behaviorally relevant findings; 3) examples of her experiences with multidisciplinary teams and making connections with scientists from different training backgrounds; 4) opportunities for behavioral scientists to contribute to environmentally pressing issues; and 5) implications of this work for our approach to science and daily life. Understanding the contribution of underlying mechanisms (e.g., delay discounting) to environmentally destructive human behavior will be critical for addressing current environmental crises (e.g., pollution, climate change, water conservation). Integrative multidisciplinary teams and action are needed to more comprehensively approach these pressing issues, and these topics will be further discussed.
Instruction Level: basic
Target Audience: Students, postdocs, early career scientists
Learning Objectives:
- At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to identify at least two behavioral mechanisms underlying environmentally relevant behavior.
- At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to describe research-based, behavior analytic and behavioral economic data related to environmentally relevant decision-making.
- At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to state three critical elements of integrative/multidisciplinary research.
- At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to identify specific behaviors that contribute to the greatest environmental detriment (e.g., pollution, water overconsumption), and techniques to replace those behaviors with more sustainable alternative behaviors.
1 BACB CEU available.
Biography: Dr. Meredith S. Berry is an assistant professor at the University of Florida in the Departments of Health Education and Behavior and Psychology. She received her BS from the University of Florida, MS, from Utah State University, and Ph.D. from University of Montana. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit. As an experimental psychologist, she has several primary areas of research including 1) basic processes of operant reinforcement, learning, memory and behavioral economics often in the context of drug misuse, 2) the evaluation of abuse liability and behavioral and cognitive effects of various drugs, 3) the intersection of human and environmental health, benefits of nature exposure, and environmental conservation. Closely related to her work on the intersection of human and environmental health, she is exploring novel applications of the benefits of nature exposure to issues of drug misuse. Her current focus on clinical drug misuse research stems from a foundation of preclinical and clinical training in behavioral pharmacology, and basic and translational behavioral research in decision-making and behavioral economics. Dr. Berry is the recipient of numerous awards, scholarships, fellowships and grants including the B. F. Skinner Foundation New Researcher Award in Basic Research, which recognizes innovative and important research in behavior analysis conducted within the first 10 years of receiving a doctorate. She is also funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and received a doctoral scholarship from the National Science Foundation, and her research is frequently covered in popular press news outlets such as Scientific American, Pacific Standard Magazine, Fast Company Magazine, The Huffington Post, and NBC News.
CE Package
This item is available to current ABAI members only.
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