Human Ecology, Second Edition Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT EMAIL CONTACT EMAIL

Jaime Jennings, 202-232-7933 x44/ jjennings@islandpress.org Katharine Sucher, 202-232-7933 x43/ ksucher@islandpress.org

PRESS RELEASE

Human Ecology How Nature and Culture Shape Our World

by Frederick Steiner Foreword by Richard T.T. Forman “Given the relationship between living space and human behavior, those who design buildings, neighborhoods, public spaces and cities ought to draw on the various disciplines which help us to understand people’s thought processes, symbolic language and ways of acting.” —from Laudato si' by Pope Francis Washington, DC (February 16, 2016) — How do we shape our urban landscapes so that both nature and humans thrive? In the age of climate change, we must think creatively about how to design resilient landscapes. In Human Ecology: How Nature and Culture Shape Our World (Publication Date: February 16, 2016), noted landscape planner Frederick Steiner considers how human cultures have been shaped by natural forces, and explores how we might use this understanding to design a more vibrant future.

Intrigued by human ecology—the study of the interplay between humans and the environment that draws from biology, geography, sociology, engineering, architecture, and other research-intensive fields—Steiner has made this cross-disciplinary approach the basis of his design and landscape work. Steiner’s publication of Human Ecology in 2002 offered eight principles for understanding human ecology, and connected these principles to building geographic scales, from habitats and communities to regions, nation-states, and the world.

Now, with this new edition, he considers how the field of human ecology has changed with the latest advances in environmental science and urban design, such as improved geographical information systems (GIS), remote-sensing technologies, and waste life-cycles. Steiner also addresses the startling implications of the now mostly urban—and still growing—human species.

ISLAND PRESS | PRESS RELEASE | 1

The field of human ecology comes alive with Steiner’s vivid examples that span history and culture.

From farm fields to ancient quarries, from Aristotle to the Navajo nation, and from outer space to Chicago’s rail lines, human ecology is fundamental to understanding how and why our surroundings change. With robust analyses of our species’ diverse living spaces, Steiner demonstrates the power of human ecology to provide clear, purposeful guidance for urban landscape design.

This updated edition is a critical read for environmental scientists, landscape planners, municipal leaders, and concerned citizens alike. With this book, we can work across disciplines and backgrounds to have purposeful conversations about the fate of our cities. The urban landscape is rapidly changing; Human Ecology provides the framework needed to envision and shape a better future.

Frederick Steiner is the dean of the School of Architecture and Henry M. Rockwell Chair in Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of many works that bring an ecological approach to urban and landscaping planning, including Urban Ecological Design, Design for a Vulnerable Planet, The Living Landscape: An Ecological Approach to Landscape Planning, and Human Ecology: Following Nature’s Lead.

Human Ecology: How Nature and Culture Shape Our World

By Frederick Steiner Island Press Paperback Publication Date: February 16, 2016 256 pages I Price: $30.00 ISBN: 978-1-61091-738-4 www.islandpress.org/human-ecology Founded in 1984, Island Press works to stimulate, shape, and communicate the information that is essential for solving environmental problems. Today, with more than 800 titles in print and some 40 new releases each year, it is the nation’s leading publisher of books on environmental issues. But Island Press does more than publish books. It advances environmental science by nurturing the exchange of ideas across disciplines and sectors, and by helping to create a multidisciplinary literature on environmental problems and solutions. The knowledge created is spread far beyond the range of a limited marketplace through sophisticated communications initiatives that reach journalists, academics, policymakers, practitioners and the general public. Through these efforts, Island Press is driving change by moving ideas from the printed page to public discourse and practice. Island Press’s emphasis is, and will continue to be, on transforming objective information into understanding and action. For more information and further updates be sure to visit www.islandpress.org. ###

ISLAND PRESS | PRESS RELEASE | 2