**ASLA Press Releases**

(Washington, D.C.) - Ian McHarg, FASLA-an internationally known landscape architect, ecological planner, professor and author-was awarded the Japan Prize for 2000 by the Board of Directors of The Science and Technology Foundation of Japan (JSTF), which awards scientists who have accomplished original and outstanding achievements in science and technology. McHarg was recognized for his work in the field of City Planning.

His holistic method of ecological planning has made him one of the giants of the environmental movement. McHarg developed the innovative and highly acclaimed regional plans for Denver and the Twin Cities as well as the Woodlands New Town Project in Texas, which still serve as models of planning and development.

"Ian McHarg is one of our most distinguished members, and his many contributions to society remind us that the profession of landscape architecture can guide public debate on important issues, such as livable communities," said American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Executive Vice President Peter Kirsch. McHarg's book, Design with Nature, published in 1968, is considered one of the most influential books of the environmental era and is still used today as a teaching and reference manual. McHarg was one of the first to argue that proper design and planning could mitigate and, in many cases, undo the harmful effects of industry on the environment.

His career, which spans more than four decades, is chronicled in his autobiography, A Quest for Life published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. He is also recognized for his role in founding the landscape architecture department at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is currently Professor Emeritus.

This year, JSTF recognized City Planning and Host Defense for the Japan Prize, an international award established in 1985. The award ceremony presentation is scheduled for Friday, April 28, 2000, at the National Theatre of Tokyo and will be followed by the Japan Prize Banquet in honor of the laureates. At the ceremony, the Japan Prize medal, the award citation and $500,000 will be presented to McHarg.

The American Society of Landscape Architects, founded in 1899, represents more than 13,000 members nationwide. Landscape architecture is a comprehensive discipline of land analysis, planning, design, management, preservation and rehabilitation. Typical projects include site design and planning, town and urban planning, regional planning, preparation of environmental impact plans, garden design, historic preservation, and parks/recreation design and planning. Landscape architects hold undergraduate or graduate degrees. They are licensed to practice in 46 states and are required to pass a rigorous national three-day examination