The Research-Practice Ecotone: Models for Authentic Inquiry and Discovery - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/HSW)

As Senior Program Manager for Research, Megan Barnes manages the Landscape Architecture Foundation's Case Study Investigation (CSI) program, Deb Mitchell Research Grant, and Landscape Performance Series initiatives. She also managed the Green New Deal Superstudio initiative (2020-2022). Her expertise is in landscape performance and the relationship between research and professional practice in landscape architecture, topics on which she lectures widely. Megan has a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.

Mikyoung believes that the design of public space has the power to strengthen human health and wellness. From large parks to restorative gardens, her work is focused on strengthening the mind and body. Her studio’s large-scaled work includes the Cheonggye Seoul River Restoration project, the 42- acre Science Hill Wellesley Campus Vision plan, the Helix Park in Houston, and Ford’s Michigan Central Park in Detroit. Mikyoung has received the Cooper Hewitt Design Award, the ASLA Design Medal and the ASLA Firm Award and has been named by Fast Company as one of the most innovative architecture firms in the world.

Rebecca Popowsky is a landscape architect and Research Associate at OLIN, where she leads the firm’s research group, OLIN Labs. Her grant-funded research includes waste-based material design and practice-based research models. Rebecca has contributed to a wide-range of design and construction projects including Canal Park in Washington, DC, Dilworth Park in Philadelphia, and collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the FEMA floodplain at the Potomac Park Levee on the National Mall. Rebecca teaches core and advanced design studios, research and professional practice courses at Penn Design and is undertaking a PhD in Practice-based Research at Virginia Tech.