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University Students’ Social Demand of a Blue Space and the Influence of Life Experiences

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  • Jason P. Julian

    (Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666-4684, USA)

  • Graham S. Daly

    (Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666-4684, USA)

  • Russell C. Weaver

    (Department of Geography, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666-4684, USA)

Abstract

Blue spaces such as rivers provide many ecosystem services (ES), including freshwater for consumption, habitat, water quality regulation, and multiple cultural amenities. While many studies have quantified the biophysical supply of ES provided by rivers, fewer have explored the social demand for ES due to the considerable effort involved in collecting these data. The San Marcos River (SMR) and the Texas State University (TXST) students that use this blue space represent a dynamic social-ecological system (SES) where nature experiences shape student values of the system. In this study, we survey the TXST student population about their use, value, and perception of the SMR, a highly used river of which headwaters originate on and flow through campus. From our extensive survey of these students, we find that educational and life experiences matter. Overall, we find that student exposure to the SMR in space, time, and experience does have measurable effects on their use, value, and perception of ES. This SES study demonstrates the importance of life experiences, place-based knowledge, and experiential learning in influencing one’s well-being and value of natural environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason P. Julian & Graham S. Daly & Russell C. Weaver, 2018. "University Students’ Social Demand of a Blue Space and the Influence of Life Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-30, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:9:p:3178-:d:167971
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liangjian Yang & Kaijun Cao, 2022. "Cultural Ecosystem Services Research Progress and Future Prospects: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Madeline T. Wade & Jason P. Julian & Kevin S. Jeffery & Sarah M. Davidson, 2023. "A Participatory Approach to Assess Social Demand and Value of Urban Waterscapes: A Case Study in San Marcos, Texas, USA," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-39, May.
    4. Erik D. Slawsky & Joel C. Hoffman & Kristen N. Cowan & Kristen M. Rappazzo, 2022. "Beneficial Use Impairments, Degradation of Aesthetics, and Human Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Pablo Rodríguez-Lozano & Cleo Woelfle-Erskine & Michael T. Bogan & Stephanie M. Carlson, 2020. "Are Non-Perennial Rivers Considered as Valuable and Worthy of Conservation as Perennial Rivers?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Matthew L. Richardson & Ashley D. Milton & Elgloria Harrison, 2020. "People with Different Educational Attainment in Washington, DC, USA have Differential Knowledge and Perceptions about Environmental Issues," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Chien, Herlin & Saito, Osamu, 2021. "Evaluating social–ecological fit in urban stream management: The role of governing institutions in sustainable urban ecosystem service provision," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    8. Aude Zingraff-Hamed & Mathieu Bonnefond & Sebastien Bonthoux & Nicolas Legay & Sabine Greulich & Amélie Robert & Vincent Rotgé & José Serrano & Yixin Cao & Raita Bala & Alvin Vazha & Rebecca E. Tharme, 2021. "Human–River Encounter Sites: Looking for Harmony between Humans and Nature in Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, March.
    9. Christina W. Lopez & Madeline T. Wade & Jason P. Julian, 2023. "Nature–Human Relational Models in a Riverine Social–Ecological System: San Marcos River, TX, USA," Geographies, MDPI, vol. 3(2), pages 1-49, March.

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