Laura R. Musacchio, PhD, is an Institute on the Environment Fellow at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She teaches green infrastructure design, geographic information systems and the design of cities and towns. In addition to her teaching duties, she conducts research in her field.
Dr. Musacchio’s passion for landscape architecture, green infrastructure design, and environmental protection is at the core of her mission to have a significant impact through her research, teaching, and writing.
Having a Significant Impact
Dr. Musacchio is well-established in her field, working with geographic information systems and virtual reality. She is fueled by her desire to create comfortable green spaces for people to enjoy, places for people to grow food, and habitats for biodiversity to flourish. Her work includes contributions to the design and planning of a diverse range of communities, parks, and natural areas.
“It’s really important to remember that connection to nature is something to grow and nurture. You don’t have to be great at growing plants, but being curious and going to a garden is a good way to get started. They can be very pleasurable and help reduce stress,” Dr. Musacchio explains.
Dr. Musacchio brings that same passion to her published work. She has co-authored a book, and in 2006, she won the Planetizen Top 10 Book Awards for her book about designing small parks. Along with these writing credentials, Dr. Musacchio has sat on the editorial boards of scientific journals such as “Landscape and Urban Planning” and “Landscape Ecology.” She has been published in those same journals on ecology, landscape architecture, and urban planning. Her articles are well-cited in the fields of landscape architecture and ecology. Dr. Musacchio is excited to be working on a new book as she remains passionate about writing and educating others.
Teaching the Next Generation
Dr. Musacchio is dedicated to inspiring the next generation of students. She seeks to help them understand the importance of designing green places for people to enjoy while protecting the environment using ecosystem services. She’s proud of how her former students have worked to enhance parks, improve public health, and contribute to the design of “better urban environments.”
Dr. Musacchio also encourages anyone interested in pursuing careers in landscape architecture, urban design, planning, and related fields to attend a program in their local area and make connections on the local level with experts in their field of choice.
“When I was an undergrad, I looked at the phone book under landscape architects and one lived 30 minutes away. I met with him a few times to get to know what landscape architects do. And he was just so nice to help me,” Dr. Musacchio says.
Future Trends in Green Infrastructure Design
Dr. Musacchio has a strong interest in computer technology and predicts that her field will be significantly impacted by AI, virtual reality, and digital twins. These are simulations of objects in real life that are instructed on how to behave through monitoring sensors. Dr. Musacchio believes it is important to make applications that may assist in creating evidence-based designs and plans.
“We all live in the work of systems and understanding how we fit into these systems is really good. Our relationship with nature is very complex. One of the best places to get started is your home. If we give to nature, it will give back to us,” Dr. Musacchio explains.
