Aaron Thompson

Associate Professor, Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Director, Center for Community and Environmental Design, Co-Lead of the Great Lakes Science Initiative

Contact Info

Email

awthomps@purdue.edu

Websites

Website

Dr. Aaron Thompson is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Purdue University, and co-lead of the Great Lakes Science Initiative at ISF. His work is grounded in the belief that resilient and sustainable landscapes emerge through the integration of science, planning, and community partnership.

He also serves as Director of the Center for Community and Environmental Design, where he leads efforts to connect research, planning, and stakeholder engagement. He plays a key leadership role within ISF, helping to convene interdisciplinary teams and partnerships that address regional sustainability challenges.

Central to Dr. Thompson’s work is a commitment to partnership-driven, purpose-oriented planning, bringing together science, design, and community insight to shape landscapes that are both environmentally resilient and socially responsive.

Research Interests

Dr. Thompson specializes in spatial analysis and geodesign approaches to address complex land use challenges. His research spans agricultural conservation, water resource management, and sustainable community development, with particular emphasis on the Great Lakes and Midwestern landscapes.

Research Impact

His work advances practical, community-informed solutions to environmental challenges by bridging research with real-world application. His projects develop tools and frameworks that help communities visualize land use change, evaluate tradeoffs, and implement more sustainable and resilient landscape strategies. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, his research supports nature-based solutions and community resilience, including initiatives that integrate agriculture, energy, and environmental planning to strengthen rural economies and ecosystems.