Phuong-Thao Nguyen-Nu

Known as: Sofi Nguyen-Nu

ASPIRING INTEGRAL ECOLOGIST - LANDSCAPE ENGINEER
Current Affiliation: Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, USA

EDUCATION
MSc. Environmental Conservation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. 2024
BE. Horticulture and Landscaping, HCM City University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam. 2018

MEMBERSHIP
Member, The Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) (2025-present)
Affiliate, American Society of Landscape Architecture (2023-2025)

I. Environmental Studies

[click here to go to section II. Landscape Architecture]

Keywords

Landscape ecology, Landscape connectivity, Animal movement, Nature-based solutions, Climate change mitigation and adaptation, Sustainable development, GIS

Social ecology, Political ecology, Land use policy

Research interests

Climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development at the landscape level in terrestrial ecosystems are my two main goals in research. These are wicked problems that require a combination of many different approaches from different disciplines to evaluate and develop strategies for a particular area. In general, natural science disciplines explore and explain what and how things happen in a place, social science disciplines assess the influence and interconnection of humans to the evolution of that place, and applied science disciplines use the results of the other two in their practice on site.

While continuing to explore landscape architecture and conservation as applied science disciplines, I am currently interested in studying and researching social ecology topics. My focuses are environmental policy-making, especially land use policy, and the interaction of religion as a major driver in social systems with societies’ perspectives on environmental issues. My goals are to improve the protection of valuable terrestrial habitats toward sustainable development and climate change mitigation, and to enhance the relationship between human and their living places.

Peer-reviewed Publications

1st author
  • Nguyen-Nu, P.T., Rooney, B., McShea, W.J. (in preparation). Determining the Distribution of Vertebrates along the Lewis and Clark Expedition Trail from 1803 to 1806.
  • Nguyen-Nu, P.T., Tran, T. X., Pham, T. H., & Nguyen, K. D. (2023). Livelihoods and human impacts in Tan Thanh mudflat, Tien Giang Province, Vietnam. Research Journal of Biotechnology Vol, 18 (8), 46-53. DOI: 10.25303/1808rjbt046053
Co-author
  • Nguyen-Nu, P.T., et al. (In-review, 7th author). SNAPSHOT USA 2024: Year 6 of the coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States. Global Ecology and Biogeography. 

Awards

  • Outstanding International Student Award, University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA. 2023
  • Virginia Schwerin Scholarship for the 2023/2024 academic year, Nelson Institute’s Environmental Conservation MS Program. 2023

Projects

On-going projects
  • Disclaimer: Below are ongoing projects that Nguyen-Nu participates in, as a research intern, at the Smithsonian Conservation Ecology Center. Nguyen-Nu herself is NOT a representative or spokesperson of the center or of those projects. Please reach out to the center or projects’ official contacts directly for any queries.
MoveBON

MoveBON

The establishment of an Animal Movement Biodiversity Observation Network (Move BON) aims to close the science-policy gap, in transforming raw movement tracks into global conservation policy, by developing an informed community of practice that will facilitate the integration of tracking data into environmental policy at national and global scales.
Đọc thêm
Turtles Conservation

Turtles Conservation

The Smithsonian Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab studies and protects freshwater and terrestrial turtles using tools like environmental DNA (eDNA), GPS telemetry, and long-term monitoring. Its research informs conservation strategies to address habitat loss, road mortality, and illegal trade, supporting evidence-based protection of turtle populations and ecosystems.
Đọc thêm
Snapshot USA

Snapshot USA

"Snapshot USA is a nationwide wildlife monitoring project launched by the Smithsonian Institution and partners at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in 2019. As the only standardized camera trap survey with data from all 50 states, Snapshot USA tracks long-term trends in mammal populations through large-scale collaboration."
Đọc thêm
Map sample
Snapshot USA's initiative - Studying historical journals from the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803-1806) to identify animals' past distribution. Above is a map sample from the outcomes of the initiative for Grey Wolf. The map was created in ArcGIS Pro.
Past projects
[Read more]
[Read more]
[Read more]

Activities

Giving Guest Lecture

Giving Guest Lecture

"As a young professional navigating the path of environmental conservation, I shared my journey—highlighting the motivation, challenges, and lessons that have shaped my career so far. I aimed to provide students at The University of Texas at Austin with a real-world perspective on establishing a foundation in this field and inspire them as they begin to carve out their own paths. Our mission is about understanding and integrating the diverse perspectives and values of the people who interact with these ecosystems."
Lecturer's review
Science Communication

Science Communication

Science communication is one of the missions of my website, A Human On Earth. Besides sharing stories of my journey and of inspiring people, with my expertise in environmental studies, I strive to share the knowledge I have learned and spread messages about environmental issues to people. “What we do makes a difference, and we have to decide what kind of difference we want to make.” — Jane Goodall. I am looking forward to our discussions and cannot wait for a future where we all thrive together.
Visit My Website
Conference Presenter

Conference Presenter

"In the morning of 21st September 2022, the conference titled “Conservation of Coastal Wetlands for Local Communities and Biodiversity in the South” was held at VNUHCM-University of Science.It focused on sharing knowledge regarding migratory water birds [...] in coastal areas of southern Viet Nam; the identification of threats to coastal wetlands, particularly in the Mekong Delta; and knowledge and experiences in managing and protecting of these environments."
VNUHCM-University of Science

📧Click here to contact for more information suggest a discussion send a message |

II. Landscape Architecture

[click here to go to section I. Environmental Studies]

Selected Projects

2018-2023
Senior Landscape Engineer & BIM Coordinator at LJ-Group
General Duties

Assisting and developing specifications (applied ecology), templates (MS Office, Autodesk Autocad, Autodesk Revit), and procedures. Managing timelines and deliverables. Interdisciplinary coordinating, handling internal and external communications. Site supervising and quality controlling. [References]

Work sample: C.P Office Headquarters - Technical drawings, developed using Autodesk Revit for BIM collaboration.

2020 - 2023
2 ha of industrial area in Dong Nai, Vietnam
CP Headquarters - LEED certificate v.4

Project leader in Design Development, Tender, Construction, and Authorship stages. Develop Revit models for BIM coordination. Produce 2D drawings, specifications, booklets, etc. [Read more]

2023
82 ha of park and outdoor area in Hai Phong, Vietnam
New Administrative Center - 1st prize

Technical team member. Provide softscape design in Design Development stage. [Read more]

2022
mixed-use residential area in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The Crest Residential

Team member. Provide softscape design and technical assistant. [Read more]

2021
The first 5-star hotel in the city of Hai Phong, Vietnam
Pullman Hotel
Pullman Hotel

Team member. Provide softscape design and teachnical support in the Construction Drawing stage. [Read more]

2019 - 2021
0.7 ha of outdoor area in Binh Duong, Vietnam
Compass One Residential

Project leader in Construction Drawing and Authorship Supervision stages. [For more info]

2019 - 2020
0.3 ha of mixed-use residential area in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Cardinal Court

Technical leader in Design Development stage. [Read more]

2020
5.1ha of residential area in Porto, Portugal
Gaia Hills - 1st prize

Provide technical assistant, produce 2D drawings in Concept stage. [Read more]

2020
0.4 ha of outdoor area in Lisbon, Portugal
Lotte 1.11

Technical support in Design Development stage. [Read more]

Professional Engagement

Landscape Architecture Mentor

Landscape Architecture Mentor

"The WI-ASLA Mentoring Program is intended to inspire and empower UWMadison Landscape Architecture Students through personalized mentoring to support their growth within the industry. Goals: Enhance students’ professional development, Assist students in establishing personal and professional goals, Build deeper relationships between Student ASLA and WI-ASLA, Build deeper relationships between students at different stages within the program."
WI ASLA Mentorship Program
Climate Change Mitigation Advocate

Climate Change Mitigation Advocate

"Cities can be hubs for biodiversity and create environmental benefits for people. Using 67 hectares (165 acres) of the New Administration in Hai Phong City, Vietnam, we propose an open green space for both communities and wildlife. Up to 35 percent of the Central Park is designed as floodable areas that capture water run-off from neighborhoods. These areas also serve as a reservoir for floodwater during rainy seasons." – Phuong-Thao Nguyen, ASLA, Landscape Engineer, LJ-Group.
ASLA's campaign - COP28

📧Click here to contact for more information suggest a discussion send a message |

vi
vi en_US