Sara Lee Schupf
Sara Lee Schupf has focused for many years on supporting and initiating programs for women and girls in science. She funded an award for an outstanding woman in science, which was nationally recognized. She also established the Lubin Family Chair for Women in Science at Skidmore College and, more recently, the Lubin-Schupf Chair for Academic Technology and Learning Innovation at the Emma Willard School, a private secondary school for girls in Troy, New York. Ms. Schupf co-funded, with the National Academy of Sciences, Women’s Adventures in Science, a biography series about women scientists written for middle school children. The series aims to inspire a new generation of young people, especially girls, to consider further study and possible future careers in science.
In 2009 Ms. Schupf created, developed, and launched a program called SciPlay with the support of PlanNYC, former mayor Bloomberg’s initiative to green New York City by 2030. SciPlay uses the outdoor playground as a resource for learning and teaching science. In 2011 SciPlay became the Schupf Family Center for Science, Play, and Technology Learning at the New York Hall of Science.
Ms. Schupf, who was the namesake of the former Sara Lee Bakeries, is currently a trustee of the New York Hall of Science, a trustee of the Eugene Lang College at The New School, and a trustee emerita of Skidmore College. In 2002 she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has also received an honorary degree from Skidmore College, her alma mater.
Statement: As soon as I heard about the concept for the Oberlander Prize, I was excited. I have always appreciated good landscape design, and this was especially important when we built our home fifteen years ago. I really wanted no boundaries between the inside and outside of our house, and that is what was achieved. The landscape architects, Oehme Van Sweden, and the architects, Demetriades and Walker, worked closely together, and our vision was richly enhanced. The sum of the parts is far greater than the whole—it is the house and garden together, not each separately, that is so extraordinary.
After our garden was designed, I became interested in gardens and gained a better understanding of their value. I believe it is time for landscape architects to be better recognized, and I am especially pleased that the Oberlander Prize is named for a woman, which, I hope, will bring important recognition to more women landscape architects and in turn inspire more young women to become landscape architects.