Call for Proposals: Student and Emerging Professional Spotlight

ASLA staff

Calling All Student and Associate ASLA Members

ASLA is excited to announce the Online Learning Student & Emerging Professional SPOTLIGHT mini-series, giving YOU the opportunity to work with a Professional Practice Network (PPN) mentor in creating a presentation for ASLA’s Online Learning series. Do you have eye-opening research to share with the profession, or an inclination to do a little design exploration over the summer? Here’s your chance!

The Call for Proposals is now open and will close on Thursday, May 25.

To submit a proposal:

  1. Review the SPOTLIGHT mini-series Call for Proposals form.
  2. Review the PPNs listed below that will be serving as hosts and mentors. Which PPN does your topic or research best fit?
    Campus Planning & Design
    Children’s Outdoor Environments
    Ecology & Restoration
    Sustainable Design & Development
    Transportation
    Water Conservation
    Women in Landscape Architecture
  3. Once you have your description, outline, and objectives finalized, complete the Call for Proposals form by May 25.
  4. Selected participants will be notified in June. At this time, you will be introduced to your PPN mentor.
  5. Collaborate with your mentor! Presentations will take place in August.

We look forward to seeing your research, technical analysis, large-scale ideas, or whatever else you may bring to the table to share with your fellow landscape architects!

For examples, check out the four SPOTLIGHT presentations that took place last year:

Capturing Perceptions: Instagram, Twitter, and Professional Practice
Presenter: Kimberly Kneifl, Associate ASLA
PPN Mentor: Susannah Abbey, ASLA, Landscape – Land Use Planning PPN

Correlating Patterns in the Urban Landscape: Biophilia and Landscape Configuration
Presenter: Kimberly Dietzel, Associate ASLA
PPN Mentor: Amy Wagenfeld, Affiliate ASLA, Children’s Outdoor Environments PPN

The Importance of Good Design: Comparing Play in the UK vs US
Presenter: Meghan Talarowski, Associate ASLA
PPN Mentor: Emily O’Mahoney, ASLA, Women in Landscape Architecture PPN

Urban Voids of Los Angeles
Presenter: Estevan Castaneda, Student ASLA
PPN Mentor: G.V. Chang, ASLA, International Practice PPN

Presentation Tips

At first, it may feel overwhelming for both the PPN mentor and mentee to create an amazing and well-thought-out presentation. ASLA encourages you to do your best work, but also encourages presenters to aim for clarity and simplicity when working on webinars. For additional information and to preview past webinars, check out the 2016 Student & Emerging Professional SPOTLIGHT mini-series on ASLA’s Online Learning website.

Successful approaches to past virtual presentations include:

  • Use of video and pre-recorded audio
  • Captivating imagery
  • Less text and more discussion
  • Use of an interactive polling system (offered within the webinar player)

About ASLA Online Learning

ASLA Online Learning presentations provide information on new and evolving practices and techniques. These distance learning opportunities are also a convenient and affordable way to earn Professional Development Hours (PDH) needed to meet state licensure requirements. PDH are approved by the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) and can be earned after viewing a presentation by completing and passing a self-study exam. Be sure to check state mandatory continuing education requirements to ensure that LA CES courses are compatible with your state requirements.

ASLA members, Associate ASLA members, and Student ASLA members are discounted at least 75% below non-member prices.

Over 100 recorded presentations are available for on-demand viewing, including:

Browsing among these presentations is now easier than ever, with 22 topic areas to choose from, including: Accessibility/ADA, Ecology and Restoration, International Practice, Project Management, Resilient Design, Transportation/Complete streets, and more.

The ASLA Online Learning series also provides the opportunity to tune in live to ask experts questions, while earning PDH.

The next live presentation is coming up on Thursday, April 27. Co-hosted by ASLA’s Children’s Outdoor Environments and Healthcare & Therapeutic Design Professional Practice Networks (PPNs), Park Rx America: Doctors Prescribing Parks to Prevent and Treat Chronic Disease (1.0 PDH LA CES / HSW) will be presented by Robert Zarr, MD, MPH, Park Rx Advisor, National Park Service; Staff Pediatrician, Unity Health Care; Founder, ParkRxAmerica.org.

Questions? Please email us at propractice@asla.org.

Leave a Reply