Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Function
Visiting scientist
Unit
Group
Contact
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf
Site
WSL Birmensdorf Bi HL E 40
| PhD, City and Regional Planning | University of California, Berkeley, USA | 2009 |
| Master of Urban Planning | University of California, Los Angeles, USA | 2000 |
Bachelor of Arts, History and German Studies | Columbia University, New York | 1993 |
Guest Scientist, Land Use Systems Group, Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL | 2025 - present |
| Associate Professor, Community and Regional Planning, The University of Texas at Austin | 2022 - present |
| Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Brookings Institution, Metropolitan Policy Program, Washington, D.C. | 2021 - present |
| Ph.D. Program Director, Community & Regional Planning, The University of Texas at Austin | 2022 - 2025 |
| Assistant Professor, Community and Regional Planning, The University of Texas at Austin | 2016 - 2022 |
| Professional Researcher, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis | 2014 – 2016 |
| Post-Doctoral Researcher, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis | 2010 - 2014 |
| Senior Transportation Planner, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, New York | 2000 - 2003 |
| Bicycle Program Director, Transportation Alternatives, New York | 1997 - 1998 |
| Deutscher Bundestag, Legislative Aide, Bonn, Germany | 1994 |
Spatial Planning for Sustainable Development in Multi-level Governance Contexts
Sustainable regional growth depends on preserving agricultural and natural lands while also accommodating intensifying urban activities without sprawling development. Land-use planning, policy, and decision-making shape whether regions achieve sustainable growth or not. Federalist systems of government typically distribute responsibility for these activities across diverse local and cantonal actors, and conflicting interests can make sustainable development difficult to achieve. Using case comparisons of Swiss cantons and California metropolitan areas, this project examines whether and how governance dynamics present in multi-level government systems contribute to or complicate sustainable land development outcomes.
Planning and Evaluating Sustainable Communities Strategies in California
Dr. Sciara is involved in several recent projects examining implementation of California’s landmark SB 375 policy, which seeks to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by integrating sustainable regional land use and transportation planning. This policy makes regional planning bodies responsible for developing sustainable visions and strategies for land development and transportation improvements. However, local governments and agencies must take action for plan implementation. Achieving state policy goals for sustainable growth is challenging in this complex multi-level governance arrangement.
