September 10, 2007

Two faculty of the College of Environmental Design, Randolph T. Hester of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and Jason Corburn of the Department of City and Regional Planning, have won 2007 Paul Davidoff awards from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP).

The Paul Davidoff award was established in 1981 by ACSP and is one of the most prestigious honors in the academic planning field. The award recognizes an outstanding book publication promoting participatory planning and positive social change, opposing poverty and racism as factors in society and seeking ways to reduce disparities between rich and poor; white and black; men and women. The award is granted biennially to the publication which most reflects Davidoff’s commitments and values.

Professor Hester won the award for his book, Design for Ecological Democracy (2006, MIT Press). Assistant Professor Corburn won the award for Street Science: Community Knowledge and Environmental Health Justice (2005, MIT Press). 

Paul Davidoff was an unyielding force for justice and equity in planning. He viewed planning as a process to address a wide range of societal problems and to improve conditions for all people. He challenged academics and professionals alike to find ways to promote participatory planning and positive social change; to overcome poverty and racism and to reduce disparities in society. Before his untimely death, he implemented major contributions to the field as an educator, practitioner and intellectual. His influence in planning extends to this day. His work constitutes a watershed in the theory and practice of community planning.

Please see the ACSP website for more information on the award.