CCS Monthly Forum

Abstract:

Why do some nature-based solutions gain public support while others face resistance, even when they perform similar ecological functions? This talk argues that aesthetics is more than a matter of surface appeal. Rather, it shapes how people engage with ecological design. Through a discussion of key concepts and findings from recent empirical studies, including research on shoreline interventions, UF Assistant Professor Jiayang Li examines how aesthetic experiences can influence public perceptions, support, and stewardship of coastal nature-based solutions.

Bio:

Jianyang Li, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of landscape architecture at the University of Florida whose research focuses on nature-based solutions for climate resilience. She investigates how people perceive and experience resilient landscapes, with particular interest in the role of aesthetic experience in shaping public acceptance, stewardship, and support for climate adaptation. By integrating perspectives from landscape architecture, environmental psychology, and social science, her work aims to inform nature-based solutions that are both ecologically effective and meaningful to the communities they serve.