Education & Careers

Panoramic view of downtown Denver, Colorado.

Denver Slaughterhouse Measure Reveals Impacts of Meat Industry

Voters did not approve a measure that would have closed a slaughterhouse that is key to the nation’s lamb production.

November 8, 2024 - The Conversation

View of E-World 83 Tower in Seoul, South Korea through branches full of white and pink cherry blossoms.

Seoul’s Urban Parks Blossom with Books

The Reading in Seoul Garden event invited residents to enjoy free reading and relaxation activities, including digital and live programs, in scenic parks, fostering a sense of community amid the city’s autumn landscapes.

November 1, 2024 - The Korea Times

Longleaf pine prairie in the Savage Christmas Creek Preserve near Orlando, Florida.

Harnessing GIS and Fire for Longleaf Pine Conservation

Scientists in Florida are using GIS technology to strategically manage prescribed burns, aiding in the restoration and biodiversity of longleaf pine ecosystems while enhancing climate resilience across the Southeast.

October 23, 2024 - Esri Blog

Banner for urban planning creators with logos.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know in 2024

Whether you’re a TikTok enthusiast or a Substack reader, you can find plenty of valuable and engaging urban planning content in the new media landscape.

October 11, 2024 - Planetizen

Set of black headphones attached to small tray of wheatgrass sitting on table against blue background.

Using Sound to Revive Ecosystems and Enhance Biodiversity

This innovative approach leverages the power of sound to stimulate beneficial soil microbes, offering a novel and eco-friendly tool for ecosystem restoration and biodiversity enhancement.

October 6, 2024 - The Conversation

Woman in forest looking at plants and documenting on tablet.

Discovering LA’s Biodiversity: The 2024 BioBlitz Challenge

The BioBlitz Challenge invites participants to document local wildlife throughout October using the iNaturalist app, contributing to conservation efforts and scientific research on Los Angeles' biodiversity.

September 30, 2024 - Los Angeles Public Library

Girl wearing Covid mask and backpack getting dropped off by mom at school.

School Drop-Off Traffic Is Causing a Congestion — and Social — Crisis

School drop-off lines are becoming longer and more isolating than ever.

September 20, 2024 - The Atlantic

Close-up of yellow dogface butterfly sitting on purple flower.

Study Reveals Los Angeles a Hotspot for Insect Diversity

A study reveals that L.A. is a surprising hotspot for insect and spider biodiversity, with diversity driven more by proximity to mountains and stable temperatures than by land value.

September 17, 2024 - The Conversation

College Students

Urban Planning Is Often Overlooked as a Career — Why Is That?

Research shows that the majority of young people aren't aware of urban planning, let alone of its potential as a career. This article offers three ways colleges and universities with undergraduate degrees and masters programs in urban planning can do to attract children and young people from diverse backgrounds to the profession.

September 16, 2024 - Stephen Kofi Diko

Happy students walking together on university campus, chatting and laughing outdoors after classes.

Planning Your Planning Degree

In the Northern Hemisphere, many students are starting urban planning degree programs. How can students position themselves for a productive and meaningful education in planning.

September 9, 2024 - Ann Forsyth

Cityscape with government building in Victoria, British Columbia.

Planners be Nimble, Planners be Quick

Planning should be methodical and responsive to community needs, but not to the point of inefficiency. Too much planning can be just as harmful as too little.

August 7, 2024 - Todd Litman

Group of four young professional people standing in front of urban building looking at documents.

Planning Your Planning Career: A Process not a Blueprint

As planning students and recent graduates consider internships and first jobs, they often ask how much these initial decisions matter. A conversation with Professor Robert Freestone unpacks the twists and turns of planning careers.

July 24, 2024 - Ann Forsyth

View of people sitting in lightly sloped green lawn with Spanish colonial-style building and cityscape in background in San Francisco, California.

How Local Park Agencies Contribute to Decarbonization Efforts

Park agencies play an important role in decarbonization by creating and managing parklands, promoting sustainable practices, and engaging communities to combat climate change and enhance public health and biodiversity.

July 23, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Group of young people enjoying group study at table.

LA County Summer Youth Employment Program Empowering Thousands With Career Opportunities

The Youth@Work program offers up to 10,000 paid work opportunities to marginalized and underserved youth aged 14 to 24, providing them with valuable job training, skills development, and mentorship.

July 15, 2024 - County of Los Angeles

View of trees and pond at Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Los Angeles, California.

From Academia to Action: An Indigenous Reforestation Effort in Los Angeles

Ary Amaya, a UCLA graduate student, leads an Indigenous-led reforestation effort in Los Angeles, integrating cultural practices and ecological restoration across 27 acres to promote Indigenous sovereignty and sustainable land management.

July 8, 2024 - UCLA Newsroom

View of green oil wells in a residential neighborhood in California.

Repurposing Oil Fields Into Parks: Advancing Just Transition and Community Well-being

The concept of a "just transition" extends beyond workers to encompass broader social and environmental dimensions, including the restoration and regeneration of land and communities affected by oil extraction activities.

June 28, 2024 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

California's State Library Park Pass Program Renewed Amid Budget Challenges

Californians can continue to access state parks for free by borrowing passes from their local libraries, thanks to the renewal of a state program.

June 26, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

An Inyo Backcountry Trail Crew uses rock bars and other hand tools to build new trail out of rock.

American Climate Corps Echoes New Deal Programs

A new federal initiative places young workers in jobs aimed at building climate resilience, but will it avoid the mistakes of similar programs?

June 13, 2024 - High Country News

Texas

Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs

Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.

April 25, 2024 - FOX 4 News

View of the stage, crowd, and speaker at the opening session of NPC24.

Housing and Equity Take Center Stage at NPC24

With discussions centering on how to solve the housing crisis and create more equitable communities, Minneapolis is a fitting host city for APA’s annual National Planning Conference.

April 14, 2024 - Mary Hammon

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.