Aishwarya Shankar is the newest faculty member at the University of Florida’s Department of Landscape Architecture. As an Instructional Assistant Professor within the department, Shankar is breaking new ground through her commitment to community-engaged action research.
Shankar received her Bachelor’s in Architecture from the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in Maharashtra, India. After receiving her degree, she continued her education at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she received her Master’s in Landscape Architecture.
During her time at Cornell, she had the opportunity to work on projects that aligned with her personal values, pursuing the gap between the ecological and cultural sides of architecture. At Cornell’s Department of Landscape Architecture, she served as a research assistant to Dr. Maria Goula and Duarte Santo on a project funded by the Mellon Foundation Just Futures Initiative Grant. This project related to immigrant use of public space, and through this work explored participatory design methods, AI integration, and co-design processes to enhance inclusivity in urban spaces through digital research and qualitative analysis.
Additionally, in her interdisciplinary work as a research assistant to Dr. Karim-Aly Kassam at Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, she translated complex concepts of biocultural diversity and climate change adaptation into accessible narratives. Through her expertise in landscape architecture and design communication, she facilitated interdisciplinary discussions on socio-ecological justice and engaged with diverse audiences, ranging from scientists to international community members.
Prior to joining UF, Shankar worked as a Research Aide and Water Equity Specialist at the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University, where she collaborated with an interdisciplinary group of scientists, planners, ecologists, community members, government officials, and students. During her time there she provided design assistance to communities, developed a climate adaptation atlas for Lake Ontario, conducted policy research on water infrastructure, and created numerous educational materials.
One of Shankar’s primary focuses has been on conducting international research on the Dhangar (herder) community in Khotale, India. The Dhangar, who have lived on their land for hundreds of years, are being faced with eviction due to laterite mining in the region. However, with the recent discovery of nearly 10,000 year old petroglyphs in the area, the designation of this land as “wasteland” is being challenged. Through her work, Shankar is exploring the interconnections between biocultural diversity, ecology, and archaeology, with the goal of decolonizing the policy level “wasteland” classification by questioning the role of landscape architecture in the village through participatory action research.
Shankar is also working on a documentary and art project centered around this research, spreading awareness about the place through women centric participatory stewardship models. Shankar has presented this research at the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Annual Conference, as well as the First International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals, Built Environment, and Southern Urbanism. She has also shared her work during a graduate research methodologies seminar at Cornell University.
Outside of research, Shankar has been a practicing architect and landscape architect since 2016, working in India and collaborating with traditional, sustainability-focused Indian craftsmen. She worked for Prabhakar Bhagwat in Ahmedabad and Architecture Brio in Mumbai and also operated her own independent practice for three years. As a practitioner, she was exposed first-hand to the reality of a highly exploitative construction industry. This prompted her to focus her own practice on changing the power dynamics of building construction sites by putting the labor that produces the work at the forefront, instead of the designer or patron.
Drawing from her past experiences as a researcher and practitioner, Shankar takes a collaborative approach to her role as an educator here at UF.
“I view teaching as a collaborative learning experience, where both students and educators grow through shared exploration,” said Shankar. “In my ten months at UF, I have gained valuable insights into the American context, particularly the rich diversity of Florida, while also drawing parallels to my experiences in India. This cross-cultural perspective informs my teaching, fostering meaningful intellectual exchanges that broaden students’ understanding of landscape architecture. By incorporating global examples of research, design, and communication—particularly from India—I encourage students to see landscape architecture as both deeply rooted in local contexts and connected to broader global narratives. This approach helps expand their thinking, equipping them with a more holistic and adaptable design perspective.”
In her short time at UF, Shankar has found that the department’s interdisciplinary and practice-driven education is what sets it apart from other programs.
“The department fosters a dynamic learning environment where students engage with faculty who are deeply involved in cutting-edge research, pedagogy, and meaningful community collaborations,” said Shankar. “It stands out for its emphasis on both research-intensive and practice-based methods of inquiry, equipping students with the skills to address real-world challenges through design. Its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural landscape studies provides students with a broad yet deeply relevant perspective, preparing them to be leaders in landscape architecture. By bridging academic research with hands-on application, the department ensures that graduates are not only critical thinkers but also effective practitioners who can make a tangible impact in the field.”
Shankar teaches a variety of courses within the department, specifically focused on Design Communication, drawing from her background in landscape design. She has also co-taught the Capstone Seminar course and serves as the department’s Internship Coordinator.
This summer, she is excited to be collaborating with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell on a project about 2 dam removal sites in the New York Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo. Throughout the spring semester, her students have developed creative products to assist in communicating dam removal scenarios at these sites and are expanding the discussion on the design process of dam removals and their effects. Additionally, through her Advanced Design Communications course, Shankar’s students are collaborating with SLAP Director Dr. Jules Bruck and Dr. Peter N. Adams from the UF Department of Geological Sciences to visualize river dynamics using an EmRiver table.
Outside of teaching and research, Shankar has been trained in Indian Classical dance and several other traditional folk-dance forms for 20 years. These skills and her affinity for performance and visual arts have been instrumental in shaping the way she perceives the world and how she communicates her work.
Learn more about Shankar and her work here.