Nerkez Opacin
Dr. Nerkez Opacin is a Senior Research Fellow in Nature and People at the University of Melbourne, where he investigates how nature-based interventions and community-led intiatives can enhance social connection, wellbeing, and resilience in societies affected by crises.
His research combines social psychology, anthropology, peacebuilding, environmental health, and participatory action research. His work often centres on young people, marginalised communities, and the everyday spaces where change quietly begins — through dialogue, shared experiences in nature, and encounters across social and cultural boundaries.
Nerkez has conducted extensive multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork across Southeast Europe and Australia. He currently co-leads several nature-based social prescribing projects, including the EU-funded RECETAS initiative in Melbourne. His research has been published in international journals, such as the International Journal of Educational Development, Wellbeing, Space & Society, and the British Journal of Social Psychology.
Nerkez is committed to making research accessible and practical for communities, practitioners, and policymakers. His work consistently highlights the voices of those who are one unheard, demonstrating how small human interactions can create opportunities for belonging, healing, and peace. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nerkezopacin/
