Aaron Thompson

Department:

Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Research:

Driving Discovery in Sustainable Landscapes
Dr. Thompson's research addresses the most pressing challenges in sustainable development, with a focus on reimagining agriculture, protecting water resources, and promoting environmental governance. His work is supported by a total of $13.6 million in research funding, with over $2.2 million directly allocated to support his program. His key research initiatives include: DiverseCornBelt: He serves on the leadership team for this $10 million USDA-funded initiative exploring how diversified landscapes can make farms more resilient. IMPACT2: Dr. Thompson is a lead scientist on this $1.5 million USDA NIFA project to co-create actionable climate tools and training for farmers and stakeholders. Coastal Resilience: He leads the social science component of an interdisciplinary team exploring nature-based solutions to coastal erosion on Lake Michigan, and is the PI on a major project with the Indiana DNR and NOAA to develop a new Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan for Northwest Indiana.

Building the Next Generation of Leaders
Dr. Thompson is committed to translating his research and engagement into transformative educational experiences. Founding Graduate Programs: He led the effort to establish the first-ever graduate degrees affiliated with Purdue's 60-year-old landscape architecture program: the Master of Science in Landscape Systems and Design (approved in 2020) and a new doctoral concentration. Award-Winning Mentorship: His students consistently receive recognition for excellence. Since 2019, he has mentored students who have won 14 awards from the Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), including three "Awards of Excellence," the chapter's highest honor. University Recognition: For his dedication to this hands-on, high-impact teaching model, Dr. Thompson was named a 2022 Purdue University Experiential Education Champion and a 2024 Insights Leadership Fellow.

Current Projects:

https://midwestagrivoltaicsresilientcommunities.org/

Contact:

Email: awthomps@purdue.edu
Link: Website/profile of Aaron Thompson