Become a Landscape Architect
Meet the Authors: STEM Literacy by Design
SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 1:30pm EST
ASLA's STEM Literacy by Design: Meet the Authors Webinar Series continues with Harvard University Students, Yuqi Zhang, ASLA and Xinran Ma, ASLA who will discuss their award-winning pop-up book for teens, Wonderland of Weeds. (Photo credit: Yuqi Zhang, ASLA and Xinran Ma, ASLA)
Learn more about Wonderland of Weeds in the Sept. 2024 issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine.
Register here
About the Authors
Xinran Ma, ASLA is a landscape designer at Hoerr Schaudt. She recently earned her Master of Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Hailing from Kunming in Yunnan Province—a region famous for its rich botanical diversity and recognized as a biodiversity hotspot—Xinran developed a passion for plants when she was a child. Her deep interest in botanical and ecological topics led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture at Sichuan University. After seven years of professional landscape architecture study, Xinran has a unique sensitivity and aesthetic to design, narrative, and graphic expression and aspires to leverage her skills and insights in her future practice.
Yuqi Zhang, ASLA is a third-year Master of Landscape Architecture student at Harvard Graduate School of Design. Growing up in Beijing, she had a joyful childhood exploring nature, received professional training in art during middle school, and later earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. With over 15 years of drawing experience, hand drawing has become an essential tool for her to express, document, and explore ideas. Yuqi is passionate about the spatial experience and aesthetics of everyday life, with a commitment to public awareness and engagement. She has gained some experience working on spatial aesthetics and plant materials through internships at Reed Hilderbrand, Cultivar Gardens, and several architecture firms.
PAST WEBINARS:
August 29 - Meet the Authors Continues: STEM Literacy by Design featuring Purdue University Graduates and Authors of Monsters Love Native Blooms: Exploring Indiana Native Plants and Their Habitat - Click here to access the webinar recording (passcode:nK=&2m6z)
About the Authors
Yiwei Huang is an assistant professor of landscape
architecture at Purdue University. Her research focuses on the relationships
between people and the outdoor environment, and she is a co-author of the
textbook "Outdoor Environments for People: Considering Human Factors in
Landscape Design" published by Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group. She
was a course instructor and independent research leader for this group of five
aspiring young ladies, and her current project focuses on working with
school-age children to co-create more equitable and greener cityscapes.
Chloe Kennedy graduated from Purdue University with
her BS in Landscape Architecture in 2023. Having grown up with teachers in the
family, she has always harbored a passion for education. She currently works
for KFM Engineering and Design in Dallas, TX.
Kayla Kramer is a recent graduate from Purdue
landscape architecture program, and a current landscape designer at Catalyst.
Growing up, Kayla always had an affinity toward working with kids, whether it
was teaching children’s swimming lessons or running summer camps. She is
excited and grateful that she gets to merge this passion of hers with her
professional path and love for the natural environment.
Molly Wimberg enjoys problem-solving landscape design
challenges specifically in the affordable housing and educational realms
by understanding the confluence of well-thought out design and
environmental constraints. She’s a landscape designer at Copley Wolff in
Boston, Massachusetts and is able to work creatively and technically on a
variety of different projects based in the New England area. Coming from
Cincinnati, Ohio, she appreciates the unique beauty of the Northeast coast and
enjoys traveling and investigating different surrounding towns and seeking out
interesting landscapes.
Wanting Zhang is a landscape
architecture designer and a recent graduate from Purdue University with a
master's degree. Currently working at MKSK, she focuses on solving social
problems through design, aiming to create environments that positively impact
future generations.
Autumn McNinch graduated from Purdue University
with her BS in Landscape Architecture in 2023, like Chloe, Kayla, and
Molly, and is now a landscape architecture analyst at Kimley Horn. She has
interests in graphic design and community engagement, and she loves
opportunities in which she can educate people on the importance of native plant
habitats in our communities. Her goal in the landscape architecture career is
to create effective ways to communicate to people the importance of
rehabilitating our environment, and show how landscape architecture plays a
vital part in designing the world!
August 9 - Baldev Lamba (author of Green Green: A Community Gardening Story), ASLA, Xaio Cui, ASLA (author of Emma's Dream Job: Landscape Architecture), and Ann English, ASLA (author of A is for Aquifer) - Click here to access the webinar recording (passcode: 2g.nw0hS)
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About the Authors
Xiao Cui, ASLA
Xiao Cui's artistic journey began at a young age, growing up as the daughter of a graphic designer in China. Her passion for arts and design has been a lifelong pursuit. After successfully earning her graduate degree in Environmental Design in China, Xiao embarked on a bold adventure by relocating to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture at Iowa State University.
As an international designer, Xiao is committed to fostering connections among diverse communities and celebrating cultural richness through her innovative design concepts. Her diverse background, spanning the realms of art and landscape architecture, has consistently fueled her creative spirit. It is this very creativity that has driven her to undertake a distinctive project - the creation of a children's storybook titled "Emma’s Dream Job – Landscape Architect." Her aim is to help young children discover their passions from a tender age, much like her own family did for her.
Presently, Xiao Cui works at LandDesign and calls Dallas, Texas her home.
Ann English, PLA, ASLA, LEED® AP BD+C
Ann English, PLA, ASLA, LEED® AP BD+C is a landscape architect currently focused on green infrastructure. Ms. English is both a designer and teacher who has worked in the private, non-profit and governmental sectors. She is passionate about plants, and how to design and evaluate plant performance in the environments in which they are planted. She also loves water in all its forms. Her degrees are in American History, Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture. A is for Aquifer is her first book.
Baldev Lamba, ASLA
Baldev Lamba is principal of Lamba Associates, landscape architects and an Associate Professor at Temple University. He earned his MLA from the University of Pennsylvania and his B.Arch. from the Delhi University in India.
Lamba’s notable practice accomplishments include the international award-winning First Ladies Water Garden in Washington D.C.; the Excellence in Research and Creative Work Award from the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture; his of highly acclaimed and award-winning series of Pop-Up Parks in his hometown, Doylestown, PA. and the publication of GREEN GREEN, a children’s picture book.
As an educator, Lamba has spearheaded a number of award-winning exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show, which have won awards from regional and national organizations in the categories of design, environment, conservation, horticultural excellence, and exceptional educational merit. His design studios, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, have also received numerous awards and recognitions.
Lamba’s recent leadership extends to serving as President of the PA-DE Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, as past Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Temple University.
About STEM Literacy by Design
STEM Literacy by Design is intended to encourage young girls to explore landscape architecture using fun, poetic, and colorful stories about adventurous girls who find their passion, courage, and "Girl Power" in the great outdoors. The initiative creates an environment that inspires readers to grow in their understanding of their communities, the natural environment, and their role as stewards of the land, while "Girl Power" promotes the importance of self-esteem for young girls and women.
To date, over 20 ASLA Chapters and a growing community of ASLA members signed on to partner with their local elementary schools to deliver story time readings of the books and host design charrettes with participating students.
Please direct questions about the webinar or Career Discovery and Diversity to Lisa J. Jennings at ljennings@asla.org.