Washington, D.C., October 29, 2013 – The theme for the  2013 ASLA Annual Meeting & EXPO is Gaining Ground. More than 5,000 landscape architecture professionals and students from across the country and around the world will gather in Boston, November 15 – 18, to enjoy the fellowship of others from the profession and to reconnect with the fundamental elements of design. Key issues such as practice management, sustainability and stormwater management will be addressed by some of the country’s foremost experts in the field.

Each year, the ASLA Professional Awards program honors the best in landscape architecture from around the globe, while the Students Award program gives us a glimpse of the future of the profession. The ASLA Awards Ceremony will be at 12 p.m., November 18 in the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. To learn more about the awards, click  here.

Scroll down to see the collection of resiliency programs, open for coverage with an authorized press pass unless otherwise stated:

Friday, Nov. 15

Thinking in Systems: How Urban Agriculture and Systems Ecology Can Reshape the City” – As the world population migrates to cities there is an urgent need to rethink urban ecology. We must focus on biodiversity, equality, livable infrastructure and sustainability. Presenters will explain how linking food to urban environments is a critical starting point to resilient cities and communities. 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 16

Stay or Go: Adapting to Increasing Coastal Flooding” – Ditch or Dutch? Increasing coastal water levels have begun to affect the very idea of shared responsibility. This panel will present the many adaptation options from examples worldwide that include coastal industries and private interests to manage the increasing risks of living on the seaboard. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17

Infrastructure as Urban Landscape: Creating a Resilient NYC” – Traditional urban practice for landscape architects has been designing parks and parkways aslarge public spaces for recreation. With a new emphasis on resilience, landscape architects have a crucial lead role integrating multi-disciplinary teams to create a livable, more sustainable and more exciting New York City. 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Thinking about Tomorrow’s Waterfront Parks: Lessons from Hurricane Sandy and Beyond” – Hurricane Sandy's impact on New York was devastating but not unexpected. The storm revealed vulnerabilities of coastal parks based on outdated risk assessment. Learn how two waterfront parks fared, the storm-design features that proved resilient, those that didn't and what this means for future parks.1:30 – 3 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18

“(R)evolution: Planning for Ecological Change and Resiliency at a Public Garden” – In the face of ecological degradation and climatic uncertainty, landscape architects are well-positioned to improve the ability of environments to withstand violent storms. By examining conservation ethics in the planning of a public garden, this session explores landscape transformation that blends conservation, horticulture and education. 1:30 – 3 p.m.

Fire, Water and Pixels: Catalyzing Ecological Resilience for Cultural Landscapes” – Cultural landscapes often manifest a complex legacy of human intervention, and, as a result, essential ecological functions often require restoration. This session will showcase the approaches, means and methods used to measure ecological resilience for three cultural landscapes, demonstrating design and action informed by science. 3:30 – 5 p.m.

Working journalists attending the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO for editorial coverage are eligible to receive complimentary media credentials. The media credentials provide access to the EXPO floor, general sessions, education sessions, and the working press room with computers, internet access and refreshments.

Media interested in attending should contact Karen Grajales at  Email Contactwith their name, address, email, phone number, title and media organization. Due to limited space, journalists are strongly encouraged to register well in advance. All requests are approved upon a case-by-case basis, and ASLA may require additional documentation for credentials. For any questions, contact  Email Contact.

About ASLA

Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 15,000 members in 49 professional chapters, and 72 student chapters and seven student affiliate chapters. The Society's mission is to lead, to educate and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. Members of the Society use the "ASLA" suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Learn more at  www.asla.org. 


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