“Having been a member of the APRU SCL since the inaugural conference in Portland, Oregon in 2017, I’ve seen it expand into an incredible community of academics, students, practitioners and policy makers across the Asia-Pacific. The ‘urban-rural linkages’ working group that I have co-led for most of this time with Dr Yizhao Yang (University of Oregon) has grown in representation, collaborated with other working groups in the SCL, and produced several publication outputs including a chapter in Springer’s 2023 publication SDGs in the Asia and Pacific Region, Implementing the UN  Sustainable Development Goals. The SCL is a wonderful, supportive community, with so much we can all learn from each other, and from each geographical context in which the annual conference is held. I would encourage anyone interested in driving forth an agenda that ensures the Asia Pacific Region's cities and landscapes are more sustainable, to jump on board! There are lots of opportunities for you to be involved, in the first instance, attend the next conference, and begin building your own connections with the remarkable members of the ARPU SCL network.” – Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard 

“Since its inception, the APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Hub has consistently provided leadership across all dimensions of the built environment and their interactions with ecological systems. By developing an understanding of place-based complexities, impacts and opportunities, and through engagement with key stakeholders within and beyond academia, the APRU-SCL has enhanced the influence and significance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across the Pacific region, while creating developmental opportunities for future regional and local leaders.” – Paola Boarin

"As an educator, researcher, and practitioner in landscape architecture, community design, urban and regional planning, and climate justice design, I firmly believe that our work shaping the built environment can profoundly impact both communities and the environments. APRU SCL serves as a vital platform for fostering innovation in education and research and disseminating scholarly work with policymakers and practitioners to showcase real-world applications. I am honored to contribute to and be part of this influential global network.” – Chingwen Cheng, Professor of Architecture, Pennsylvania State University

The annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities – Sustainable Cities and Landscapes conference was hosted by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito August 5-10. “My favorite aspect of the gathering is its commitment to research that is place-based, reciprocal, and relevant to the communities with whom we’re working.” – Dara Craig, University of Oregon, doctoral student in environmental studies