Unearthing Forgotten Histories: Margaret Ng Named CAS Associate for Groundbreaking Research

It's always exciting to hear about scholars receiving well-deserved recognition, especially when their work promises to shed light on important, untold stories. That's precisely the case with Margaret Ng, an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture right here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), who has just been named a Center for Advanced Study (CAS) Associate for the 2026-27 academic year. Honestly, it's quite a big deal.

Being selected as a CAS Associate is no small feat; it's a testament to truly exceptional scholarship and creative endeavor. Think of it as a stamp of approval for groundbreaking intellectual pursuits. This prestigious appointment comes with some fantastic benefits: a full semester's release from her usual teaching and service duties, allowing her to dive deep into her research, plus a dedicated budget to support her project. It’s exactly the kind of support that allows brilliant minds to do their best work.

Professor Ng's project, intriguingly titled "An Ecology of Labor: Chinese Agricultural Diaspora and Landscape Transformation in the U.S. West," is poised to tackle a crucial, yet largely overlooked, chapter in American history. She plans to meticulously explore the profound contributions of Chinese agricultural laborers who worked in the U.S. West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many might not realize just how instrumental these communities were in shaping the very land we see today, particularly through their innovative irrigation systems.

Her research really aims to unearth these forgotten narratives. For too long, the immense ecological and infrastructural impacts of these laborers, often facing immense discrimination and hardship, have been, shall we say, conveniently omitted from mainstream historical accounts. Professor Ng intends to meticulously piece together their story using a blend of rigorous archival research, on-the-ground field studies, and even, where possible, oral histories and interviews. Her goal is to create detailed maps and analyses that vividly illustrate how their labor literally transformed the landscape.

This isn't Professor Ng's first foray into impactful historical landscape studies, by any means. She's already made significant contributions with works like "Garden of the Lower Yangzi" and "Trans-Pacific Ecologies." In fact, her earlier work has garnered significant praise, including the esteemed ASLA Award of Excellence. So, it's clear she brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record to this new endeavor, which just makes her upcoming CAS project all the more exciting.

Ultimately, the Center for Advanced Study exists to champion exactly this kind of ambitious, innovative scholarship. By empowering researchers like Professor Ng, the CAS helps bring vital new perspectives to light, enriching our collective understanding of history, culture, and the complex relationship between people and their environment. We'll certainly be looking forward to seeing the results of her important work.