معرفی
Xiangyou Shen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society at Oregon State University’s College of Forestry. Their research focuses on the intersection of play, leisure, health, and human-environment interactions. Shen holds a Ph.D. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State University, an M.S. in Tourism Management from Sun Yat-Sen University, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering and Architecture from Central South University.
Research interests include sustainable recreation and tourism, social science policy, and nature-based health interventions. Shen’s work integrates mixed methods and advanced statistical modeling to explore how play fosters creativity, adaptability, and wellbeing. Key areas include adult playfulness as a psychological trait, nature-based play for health promotion, and interdisciplinary collaborations with stakeholders.
Recent publications analyze outdoor recreation’s mental health benefits during the pandemic, playfulness in psychological interventions, and the role of play in scientific creativity. Shen advises graduate students in environmental sciences and communication, and leads the Health, Environment, and Leisure (HEAL) Research Lab. Courses taught include software tools for quantitative social science and nature and human health studies.
