Student Simon Strömqvist ‑ scholarship recipient from the Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography
Tourism student Simon Strömqvist at Mid Sweden University has received a scholarship for field studies in Imperia, Italy, where he will talk to people who walk the pilgrimage route Via Della Costa to find out if and how the hike affects the well-being of individuals.
Accessible natural environments to promote active and healthy ageing is a research project where the goal is for more older people to be able to be active in nature to improve quality of life, physical and mental health. Linked to the research project is a student, Simon Strömqvist, who is attending the two-year Master by Research programme in tourism at Mid Sweden University. Previously, Simon has studied the Tourism and Destination Development programme, and the research preparatory programme is given in close collaboration with the Master in Tourism and with researchers linked to the research centre ETOUR.
In his ongoing course, Simon examines older adults' experiences of hiking in natural areas and he is particularly interested in immersing himself in existential and spiritual experiences. Simon has received a scholarship from the Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography (SSAG) to deepen knowledge about nature experiences, and how communities can increase access to nature so that more people can take part in the positive effects that nature stays can provide.
– As Simon's supervisor and project manager for the project Accessible natural environments to promote the health and well-being of the elderly, I am of course very proud that he has received this scholarship. I wish you the best of luck with your trip! Says Sandra Wall-Reinius, associate professor at Mid Sweden University.
The scholarship will be used for a study this autumn, in Imperia in Italy, where Simon, using walking interviews, will look at talking to people who walk the pilgrimage route Via Della Costa and how the walk relates to well-being. Like Östersund, Imperia is a member of the global WHO network Age-friendly Cities and Communities, which promotes the health and well-being of the elderly. The results will be communicated at the beginning of next year.
– I am also very much looking forward to how he explores new theoretical approaches in health geography and how we can understand hiking in nature as experiences in therapeutic landscapes, says Sandra Wall-Reinius.