Urban Ecology | Diane Pataki's Urban Greening Lab

Welcome to the Urban Greening Lab

Research from Diane Pataki's lab on evidence-based solutions for green cities

We study urban sustainability, urban ecology, and the role of nature and nature-based solutions in creating and managing cities that thrive. Our lab is part of the new Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University and located in the transdisciplinary School of Sustainability. We are dedicated to carrying out ASU's charter of higher education for all, research and discovery of public value, and responsbility for the communities we serve. Check back for news, updates, and new publications about our urban greening projects.

New paper highlight: Plant recorders of environmental injustice

D. Pataki

Jan 11, 2022
2 min

New paper highlight: Plant recorders of environmental injustice

Vehicle emissions from high traffic roads are recorded in roadside weeds - and show how traffic pollution is inequitably distributed

New paper highlight: Integrating nature-based, social, and technical climate change solutions

D. Pataki

Jan 3, 2022
2 min

New paper highlight: Integrating nature-based, social, and technical climate change solutions

Greening programs alone will not be enough to cope with climate change

New paper highlight: Ethical experiments in urban greening

D. Pataki

Dec 27, 2021
2 min

New paper highlight: Ethical experiments in urban greening

Are scientists responsible for the negative impacts of green infrastructure projects?

This blog is moving to the hottest and driest major city in America

D. Pataki

Jul 15, 2021
2 min

This blog is moving to the hottest and driest major city in America

By some measures, anyway. I've written several posts about greenspace-based solutions for urban heat and water scarcity, and I've visited...

D. Pataki

Nov 10, 2020
1 min

The need for an ethical code for water

For the last 18 months an intrepid and international group of urbanists, activists, and researchers has been meeting regularly to the...

COVID-19 and the return of the sanitary city

D. Pataki

Aug 17, 2020
5 min

COVID-19 and the return of the sanitary city

Outbreaks of disease in the19th and early 20th century shaped the design of modern cities and parks.

Urban greening highlights from the Ecological Society of America

D. Pataki

Aug 7, 2020
4 min

Urban greening highlights from the Ecological Society of America

Many new advances in greening science made their debut at the 2020 ESA annual meeting.

Unlocking greening science through the study of “cultigens”

D. Pataki

Jul 30, 2020
6 min

Unlocking greening science through the study of “cultigens”

Lawn grasses, tree cultivars, and other ornamental plant "cultigens" are what most urban greenspace is made of.

What's the role of ornamental and cultivated garden plants in cities?

D. Pataki

Jul 24, 2020
6 min

What's the role of ornamental and cultivated garden plants in cities?

The ecology of plants that have been hybridized or bred is far less studied than “naturally” occurring species.

Earthquakes, pandemics, and cherry blossoms in Salt Lake City, Utah

D. Pataki

Apr 16, 2020
4 min

Earthquakes, pandemics, and cherry blossoms in Salt Lake City, Utah

I started this blog to chronicle urban greening issues around the world and made it as far as Australia before the pandemic crisis struck.

Life past the tipping point in Western Sydney

D. Pataki

Mar 9, 2020
4 min

Life past the tipping point in Western Sydney

For one day during the bushfires, Penrith, NSW was declared the hottest place on the planet.

When greening doesn't deliver: The case of trees and air quality

D. Pataki

Feb 25, 2020
4 min

When greening doesn't deliver: The case of trees and air quality

Greening isn't always the most effective solution to pressing urban problems. But that doesn't mean the problems can't be solved.

Is green infrastructure still experimental?

D. Pataki

Feb 5, 2020
4 min

Is green infrastructure still experimental?

Does the call for more experimentation mean that green infrastructure still needs more testing than grey infrastructure?

Why are U.S. cities still irrigating with drinking water?

D. Pataki

Jan 29, 2020
4 min

Why are U.S. cities still irrigating with drinking water?

After the Millennium drought, Australian cities found other ways to irrigate parks, gardens, and landscapes, and so can we.

Greener and denser cities - The Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part II

D. Pataki

Jan 20, 2020
4 min

Greener and denser cities - The Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part II

With more high density and mixed-used buildings crowded into urban areas, where will all the trees go?

Trees that answer fan mail and other tales from the Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part I

D. Pataki

Jan 10, 2020
4 min

Trees that answer fan mail and other tales from the Australian School of Urban Forestry, Part I

You don't just need expertise or experience to be an effective steward of urban trees. You need a network.

People want action on rising temperatures in Australian cities. Can urban trees help?

D. Pataki

Jan 5, 2020
4 min

People want action on rising temperatures in Australian cities. Can urban trees help?

The catastrophic bushfires are a terrible reminder that adapting to climate change won't be enough. Here's how urban trees can help

Solutions-oriented ecology: Thoughts from the other ESA (and a platypus!)

D. Pataki

Jan 1, 2020
3 min

Solutions-oriented ecology: Thoughts from the other ESA (and a platypus!)

American universities are still struggling to evaluate and reward practical, use-inspired, and community engaged research on solutions to...

D. Pataki

Dec 30, 2019
3 min

The green dilemma for arid cities

Should arid cities plant more trees in a hotter and drier world? The science of “socioecohydrology” aims to find out.

D. Pataki

Dec 30, 2019
2 min

New decade, new blog

At this site I'll be posting non-technical summaries of new projects in urban greening from my lab, my colleagues, and the people I'm meetin

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