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M. Margaret Bryant
Assistant Professor

333 Marshall Hall
1 Forestry Dr.
Syracuse, New York 13210

Phone: (315) 470-4929
Email: mbryant@esf.edu

• Praxis in Landscape Architecture
  Dr. Bryant's blog addressing landscape design and urban planning issues.

Education

• Ph.D. in Regional Planning, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia
• Bachelor of Science, Horticulture, Mississippi State University

Area of Specialization

I have a passion for land. In more specific terms, I am passionate about land and water resources and about helping people make better decisions about their use. I act on this passion in two ways: (1) conducting research and outreach in land use/landscape planning and (2) teaching future planners and designers about ecological systems and the associated complexities inherent in decisions about use and management.

Both rural and urban land use questions interest me, but I find that much of my work centers on urban ecological systems and the land management decisions of local governments. Land use conflicts create demand for innovative planning and design, and cities are contested spaces whose importance is only increasing as urbanization rapidly expands around the globe. I have conducted research in the areas of urban biodiversity; remnant urban green space and its use for improving water quality and for providing neighborhood amenities (as greenways and as a way of promoting active living, especially in low income neighborhoods); and ecologically sensitive, conservation-oriented, land planning and management. Visualization using GIS mapping is an important component of this work. Currently, I am investigating physical planning and design options for climate adaptation at the neighborhood scale, with an emphasis on extreme heat events. I am also interested in ecological restoration in urban ecosystems and in measurements of landscape performance, especially regarding water quality and biodiversity.

I am excited about emerging areas of practice for landscape architects, especially those opportunities at disciplinary edges (e.g., between landscape architecture and ecology, urban and regional planning, architecture, and engineering). Landscape planning and design in developing countries is also increasingly important. I greatly value the opportunities I have had to explore international landscape planning issues with graduate students from China, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. This is the area in which I seek to grow my body of work and expand my teaching: ecologically sensitive planning and design that crosses disciplinary boundaries and addresses community-scale land/water resource questions in the U.S. and in developing countries.

Teaching Experience

• SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (2007-Present)
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (8 years)

Practice Experience

• Jordan, Jones & Goulding, Inc – Environmental/Land Use Planning
• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission - Environmental/Land Use Planning
• METLAND Landscape Planning Group – Planning Research and Outreach
• Institute for Community and Area Development – Planning Research and Outreach

Courses Taught

• LSA 326 Landscape Design Studio I
• LSA 321 Ecological Applications in Planning and Design
• LSA 470/670 – Thematic Landscape Design Studio
• LSA 496 – Community Mapping and GIS
• Seminars: Community Development Process, Ecological Cities

Teaching and Research Interests

• Ecologically-based physical planning and design
• Landscape/land use planning, include conservation land planning

Selected Publications

Bryant, M.M. 2011. Climate adaptation: A research agenda for landscape architects. Proceedings: CELA 2011 Urban Nature. Los Angeles, CA: Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.

Bryant, M.M. 2009. Urban green infrastructure, public health, and local government: Lessons learned from long-term engagement with one American city. Proceedings: CELA 2008-2009 Teaching + Learning Landscape: 175-178. Tucson, AZ: Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.

Bryant, M. M. 2009. Pathways to Healthy Neighborhoods: Planning and Design Toolkit. Roanoke, VA: City of Roanoke Department of Parks & Recreation.

Bryant, M. M. 2007. Carvins Cove Natural Reserve Park Management Plan. Roanoke, VA: City of Roanoke Department of Parks & Recreation.

Bryant, M. M. 2006. Urban Landscape Conservation and the Role of Ecological Greenways at Local and Metropolitan Scales. Landscape and Urban Planning 76: 23-44.

Musacchio, L., E. Ordenerol, M. M. Bryant, and T. Evans. 2005. Changing Landscapes, Changing Disciplines: Seeking to Understand Interdisciplinarity in Landscape Ecological Change Research. Landscape and Urban Planning 73: 326-338.