“Did you know that much health research in the past five years shows that walking outdoors in nature can fend off depression, anxiety, and negative behaviors better than pharmaceuticals, and may improve children’s scholastic performance?” says Gillian Beamer, president of the Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT).
“These results fascinate the twenty-first century biomedical scientist in me, yet I am simultaneously wondering why it has taken more than a century to prove the obvious: that walking in the woods is good for you? More eloquently stated by Henry David Thoreau, ‘When we walk, we naturally go to the fields and woods: What would become of us, if we walked only in a garden or a mall?’ (“Walking” The Atlantic May 1862.)”
Gillian Beamer’s background makes it easy to see why she is committed to conserving the land of Westborough and protecting its wildlife. She grew up on Mount Desert Island in Maine, surrounded by the beauty of Acadia National Park. She grew to love the outdoors and all it has to offer. This love, combined with her scientific curiosity, led her to become a faculty member at Tufts University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, pursuing work in health sciences and biomedical research. She has over a decade of experience studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.
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“It wasn’t just the beauty of the land in Maine that captivated my attention, but the plants, animals and their habitats, too, especially the soil and the ocean.” To this day, Gillian remains connected to nature by her scientific curiosity, as an avid observer of all small creatures.
Gillian has a veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate of veterinary medicine and board certification as a veterinary pathologist from Ohio State University (OSU). In 2012, after eight years of research and clinical instruction at OSU, Gillian joined Tufts University as an assistant professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health.
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Since 2012, Gillian has lived in Westborough with her husband Orin Parvin, their daughter Madeline and son Atley.
“Here in Westborough,” she notes, “I feel strongly about maintaining a mindset focused on conservation. It takes a community effort to instill an appreciation for conservation. I want residents to be curious and explore the trails, the bodies of water, the wooded areas. Conserving these gems will enrich our lives, our children’s lives, and all future generations. The land and trails are in our backyards, waiting to be appreciated and used. All it takes is 20 minutes of walking each day.” (WCLT trail maps: http://www.westboroughcharm.org/guide/trailmaps.php)
Gillian joined the WCLT Board of Directors in 2014 and was voted WCLT president in 2017. She also serves on WCLT’s education committee.
“One of my priorities as WCLT president is to build the number of active volunteers we have, so we foster an appreciation of nature and conservation in the next generations,” says Gillian. “I encourage anyone who values the beauty of Westborough to please reach out to us and get involved: president@westboroughlandtrust.org.”
The Westborough Community Land Trust (WCLT) preserves, protects, and promotes open space in Westborough (www.westboroughlandtrust.org and https://www.facebook.com/westboroughlandtrust).
By Nancy Szostak Wright