How to open up: Factors influencing receptivity to ecosomatic education

Concerns about redundancy of ecosomatic education due to its niche nature or inaccessibility may be overestimated. This study interviewed ecosomatics students to examine which factors are involved in piquing interest in this form of education and knowledge production. Findings can inform how ecosomatic education can best be promoted and organized to attract under-reached demographics. Receptivity to ecosomatic education does not require previous interest in either somatics or the environment, but can be driven by other incentives, such as interest in adjacent activities, academic credit rewards, physical health improvement, financial access or recommendations, suggesting that how programmes are institutionally validated and presented as beneficial to the student has implications for reach and impact. This study offers guidance on relevant factors and challenge assumptions about who engages with ecosomatics.