Molly Tucker

Molly Tucker

My project is focused upon evaluating the relative importance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the Oxford Botanic Gardens Glasshouses upon health and wellbeing outcomes in human participants. The aim of my project is to build upon evidence from clinical studies demonstrating the induction of physiological calming following the inhalation of biogenic VOCs. It is currently unknown whether the pharmacological effects of inhaling VOCs seen in clinical settings will occur in urban green spaces such as the Botanic Gardens glasshouses. I will focus upon measuring physiological proxies of stress such as salivary alpha amylase activity and heart rate variability.