Paul H. Gobster, Ph.D., ASLA is a Research Social Scientist with the USDA Forest Service’s Northern Research Station in Evanston, Illinois. For 25 years, Gobster has focused his studies and research on the behavioral aspects of landscape design, planning and management. The context for much of his work has been on urban landscapes in the public realm, where he has dealt with three interrelated topics areas; how people perceive and use urban parks and forests – including issues of aesthetics, safety and physical activity; how urban nature is valued by different individuals and stakeholder groups and how these values can be incorporated into landscape management; and how an understanding of the cultural dimensions of landscape can provide more equitable access to open space opportunities for diverse populations. Gobster has communicated his findings in more than 90 publications and 130 presentations and has received six national awards for research from ASLA.

In 2004, Gobster was invited to serve as the Beatrix C. Farrand Visting Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning at the University of California - Berkeley. He is currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Environmental Policy and Culture Program at Northwestern University.