THE WELL-ROUNDED NEST

During the fall semester of 2025, I participated in the Experiential Explorations Program (EEP). Throughout the semester I engaged in self-directed research exploring ecological approaches to urban planning, using Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a foundation for envisioning future city design. 

Through my research and my enrollment at the Lo—TEK Institute, I developed a framework for urban planners titled, The Well-Rounded Nest, to start the conversation on how planners can think from the ground up.

This experience gave me the toolkit of something I wish I had during my past design studios. Now, I constantly reference my framework and apply them to my projects.

This research marked a shift from simply learning concepts to creating tools that guide my own practice. This experience taught me that a Global Citizen Scholar is someone who doesn't just absorb knowledge, but synthesizes it into something actionable.