The California Landscape Architectural Student Scholarship Fund, or CLASS Fund, has awarded the 2016-17 CLASS Fund Grant Award to Professor Michael Volk and his research team from the University of Florida department of landscape architecture.

The project, entitled Incorporating Climate Change into Landscape Architectural Projects and Practice, will examine landscape architects' roles in mitigating climate change impacts and alternative design and implementation practices in Florida. Using data from a recent survey on attitudes and perceptions of Florida landscape architects toward climate change, Professor Volk's study will identify information gaps and possible barriers to adoption of landscape design practices that anticipate and plan for climate change, as well as potential strategies that can be used to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change on the built and natural environment.

Other members on the research team include: Professor Gail Hansen, Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, and Belinda Nettles, PhD Candidate, Center for Landscape Conservation Planning & Levin College of Law Conservation Clinic, University of Florida.

Professor Michael Volk commented, "Landscape architects have a significant role in addressing climate change in their work and practice, and many landscape architects are already doing so. We greatly appreciate the support of the CLASS Fund and CELA in this project, and look forward to continuing our work to advance knowledge in this area."

CLASS Fund has a cooperative relationship with CELA (Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture) involving the solicitation and review of research proposals related to the landscape industry. The Grant Award amount is $25,000 (maximum) for a one-year period.