"The purpose of the thesis is to investigate a new approach to science that includes human perception and sensory modalities. Phenomenological thinking is used to integrate experience with understanding. I create a physical body of artwork that can be seen by a viewer and can lead to a personal experience of the phenomena being investigated. The goal of the thesis is to show that the phenomenological mothod can be followed in a way that can be replicated,...

"The act of thru-hiking a long-distance trail immerses hikers in the natural world for an extended time; as such, it represents a compelling system to study the relationships between a specific appreciative activity--thru-hiking--and environmental attitudes regarding sustainability. This thesis critically explored the primary research question: How do thru-hikes change or inspire environmental attitudes in thru-hikers on long-distance trails in the...