Key details
Dr Benz Kotzen
Professor of Landscape Architecture and Nature Based Solutions
Dr Benz Kotzen is an Associate Professor in the School of Design and a chartered landscape architect with over 25 years' experience in landscape design and landscape planning consultancy, with specific experience in Environmental Impact Assessment and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Benz is the Head of Research and Enterprise in the School of Design and he has led a number of large EU funded projects including the Desert Restoration Hub and the EU Aquaponics Hub. He has taught at the University of Greenwich for over 20 years. He has chaired the EU Aquaponics Hub and the EU Desert Restoration Hub.
Responsibilities within the university
Post Graduate Landscape Coordinator
Head of Research and Enterprise, School of Design
Head of the University of Greenwich Green Roofs and Living Walls Centre
Head of the University of Greenwich Aquaponics Labs
Head of Integrated Nature and Technology Research Group (INTENT)
Academic Council Member
Faculty Research Ethics Committee (FREC) Member
Faculty Research Degrees Committee (FRDCLAS) Member
Faculty Research Degrees Committee (FRDC) Sub Committee
Faculty Research and Enterprise Committee (FREC) Member
Research Excellence Framework (REF) School of Design Lead
Awards
Joint winner (with Sarah Milliken) of the Sustainable Future Award at the Greenwich Research and Enterprise (GRE) Awards 2020/2021
Recognition
Chartered member of the Landscape Institute
Research / Scholarly interests
- Sustainable landscape design
- Environmental noise
- Arid and desert landscapes
- Water and landscape restoration
- Aquaponics and urban agriculture
- Biophilia and techno nature based solution
Recent publications
Article
Milliken, Sarah , Kotzen, Benzion, Walimbe, Sonali, Coutts, Christopher , Beatley, Timothy (2023), Biophilic cities and health. Taylor & Francis - Routledge. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis - Routledge, Cities and Health, 7 (2) . pp. 175-188 ISSN: 2374-8834 (Print), 2374-8842 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2023.2176200) NB Item availability restricted.
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2021), Future cities: speculation on the case for vertical biophilic cities. European Ecocycles Society (ECyS). In: , , , . European Ecocycles Society (ECyS), Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 7 (2) . pp. 59-80 ISSN: 2416-2140 (Print), 2416-2140 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v7i2.192).
Fruscella, Lorenzo , Kotzen, Benzion, Milliken, Sarah (2021), Organic aquaponics in the European Union: towards sustainable farming practices in the framework of the new EU regulation. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Reviews in Aquaculture, 13 (3) . pp. 1661-1682 ISSN: 1753-5123 (Print), 1753-5131 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12539).
Rocha, Bernard , Paço, Teresa A., Luz, Ana Catarina, Palha, Paulo , Milliken, Sarah , Kotzen, Benzion , Branquinho, Cristina , Pinho, Pedro , Cruz de Carvalho, Ricardo (2021), Are biocrusts and xerophytic vegetation a viable green roof typology in a Mediterranean climate? A comparison between differently vegetated green roofs in water runoff and water quality. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Water, 13: 94 (1) ISSN: 2073-4441 (Print), 2073-4441 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/w13010094).
Kotzen, Benz , Branquinho, Cristina, Prasse, Ruediger (2020), Does the exotic equal pollution? Landscape methods for solving the dilemma of planting native versus non-native plant species in drylands. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Land Degradation & Development, 31 (18) . pp. 2925-2935 ISSN: 1085-3278 (Print), 1099-145X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3650).
Khandaker, Mohammed and , Kotzen, Benzion (2018), Taste testing bittergourd (Momordica charantia) grown in Aquaponics. Ecocycles. In: , , , . Ecocycles, Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 4 (2) . pp. 19-22 ISSN: 2416-2140 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v4i2.112).
Palm, Harry W. , Knaus, Ulrich, Appelbaum, Samuel, Goddek, Simon , Vermeulen, Tycho , Haїssam Jijakli, M. , Strauch, Sebastian M. , Kotzen, Benz (2018), Towards commercial aquaponics: a review of systems, designs, scales and nomenclature. Springer International Publishing. In: , , , . Springer International Publishing, Aquaculture International, 26 (3) . pp. 813-842 ISSN: 0967-6120 (Print), 1573-143X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-018-0249-z) NB Item availability restricted.
Khandaker, Moahammed and , Kotzen, Benzion (2018), The potential for combining living wall and vertical farming systems with aquaponics with special emphasis on substrates. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Aquaculture Research, 49 (4) . pp. 1454-1468 ISSN: 1355-557X (Print), 1365-2109 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/are.13601).
Bittsanszky, Andras , Uzinger, Nikolett, Gyulai, Gábor, Mathis, Alex , Villarroel, Morris , Kotzen, Benzion , Komives, Tamas (2016), Nutrient supply of plants in aquaponic systems. Ecocycles. In: , , , . Ecocycles, Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 2 (2) . pp. 17-20 ISSN: 2416-2140 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v2i2.57).
Kotzen, Benzion and , Appelbaum, Samuel (2016), Further investigations of Aquaponics using brackish water resources of the Negev Desert. European Ecocycles Society (ECyS). In: , , , . European Ecocycles Society (ECyS), Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 2 (2) . pp. 26-35 ISSN: 2416-2140 (Print), (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v2i2.53).
Nunes, Alice , Oliveira, Graça, Mexia, Teresa, Valdecantos, Alejandro , Zucca, Claudio , Costantini, Edoardo A.C. , Abraham, Eleni M. , Kyriazopoulos, Apostolos P. , Salah, Ayman , Prasse, Ruediger (2016), Ecological restoration across the Mediterranean Basin as viewed by practitioners. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Science of the Total Environment, 566-67 . pp. 722-732 ISSN: 0048-9697 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.136).
Cunningham, Hamish and , Kotzen, Benz (2015), The sustainable vegetables that thrive on a diet of fish poo. The Conversation Trust. In: , , , . The Conversation Trust, The Conversation ISSN: 2201-5639 (Print), 2201-5639 (Online) (doi: http://theconversation.com/the-sustainable-vegetables-that-thrive-on-a-diet-of-fish-poo-50160).
Kotzen, Benz and , (2015), COST action ES1104 “Arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: Setting up a drylands and desert restoration hub”. Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 61 (3) . pp. 426-431 ISSN: 0038-0768 (Print), 1747-0765 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2014.951878).
Kotzen, Benz and , (2015), Innovation and evolution of forms and materials for maximising dew collection. Ecocycles. In: , , , . Ecocycles, Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 1 (1) . pp. 39-50 2416-2140 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v1i1.33).
Book
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2017), COST Action ES1104 arid lands restoration and combat of desertification: Setting up a drylands and desert restoration hub arid lands restoration scientific fact sheets: State of the art knowledge in science, successes and case studies in restoration. University of Greenwich and COST. In: , , , . University of Greenwich and COST, . ISBN: 9780900822018 (doi: ).
Book section
Milliken, Sarah , Ovca, Andrej, Villarroel, Morris, Gartmann, Florentina , Antenen, Nadine , Griessler Bulc, Tjasa , Kotzen, Benzion , Junge, Ranka (2022), Lessons learned from introducing aquaponics to higher education curricula. Springer Nature. In: , , In: Clara Vasconcelos, Cristina Calheiros (eds.), Enhancing Environmental Education Through Nature-Based Solutions. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland (4) (1st) . pp. 153-181 . ISBN: 9783030918422 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91843-9_11) NB Item availability restricted.
Goddek, Simon , Joyce, Alyssa, Kotzen, Benz, Dos-Santos, Maria (2019), Aquaponics and global food challenges. Springer. In: , , , Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer, Cham, Switzerland . pp. 3-17 . ISBN: 9783030159429 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6_1).
Joyce, Alyssa , Goddek, Simon, Kotzen, Benz, Wuertz, Sven (2019), Aquaponics: closing the cycle on limited water, land and nutrient resources. Springer. In: , , , Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer, Cham, Switzerland . pp. 19-34 . ISBN: 9783030159429 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6_2).
Kotzen, Benz , Coelho Emerenciano, Mauricio Gustavo, Moheimani, Navid, Burnell, Gavin M. (2019), Aquaponics: alternative types and approaches. Springer. In: , , , Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer, Switzerland . pp. 301-332 . ISBN: 9783030159429 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6_12).
Palm, Harry W. , Knaus, Ulrich, Appelbaum, Samuel, Strauch, Sebastian M. , Kotzen, Benzion (2019), Coupled aquaponics systems. Springer. In: , , , Aquaponics Food Production Systems Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer, Cham, Switzerland . pp. 163-199 . ISBN: 9783030159429 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6_7).
Proksch, Gundula , Ianchenko, Alex, Kotzen, Benz (2019), Aquaponics in the Built Environment. Springer Nature. In: , , In: Simon Goddek, Alyssa Joyce, Benz Kotzen, Gavin M. Burnell (eds.), Aquaponics Food Production Systems: Combined Aquaculture and Hydroponic Production Technologies for the Future. Springer Nature, Switzerland . pp. 523-558 . ISBN: 9783030159436 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6).
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2018), Economic benefits and costs of green streets. Butterworth-Heinemann. In: , , In: Gabriel Pérez, Katia Perini (eds.), Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability. Butterworth-Heinemann, . pp. 319-331 . ISBN: 9780128121504 (doi: https://www.elsevier.com/books/nature-based-strategies-for-urban-and-building-sustainability/perez/978-0-12-812150-4) NB Item availability restricted.
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2018), Green roofs: Social and aesthetic aspects. Butterworth-Heinemann. In: , , In: Gabriel Perez, Katia Perini (eds.), Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability. Butterworth-Heinemann, . pp. 273-281 . ISBN: 9780128121504 (doi: https://www.elsevier.com/books/nature-based-strategies-for-urban-and-building-sustainability/perez/978-0-12-812150-4) NB Item availability restricted.
Conference item
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2017), The potential for combining living wall and vertical farming systems with aquaponics. In: European Aquaculture Society Conference 2017, 17-20 October 2017, Dubrovnik, Croatia , . , (doi: ).
Conference proceedings
Kotzen, Benzion and , (2015), Living Walls for Vertical Farming ‘AQUAPONICS’. University of Greenwich Green Roofs and Living Walls Centre. In: , , , Proceedings of International Conference on Living Walls and Ecosystem Services. University of Greenwich Green Roofs and Living Walls Centre, (doi: https://greenwich2015conference.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/book-of-abstracts.pdf).
Edited book
Goddek, Simon , Joyce, Alyssa, Kotzen, Benz, Burnell, Gavin M. (2019), Aquaponics Food Production Systems. Springer. In: , , , . Springer, Cham, Switzerland . ISBN: 9783030159429 (doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15943-6).
Working paper
Kotzen, Benz , Branquinho, Cristina, Prasse, Ruediger (2016), Does the exotic equal pollution? Landscape methods for solving the dilemma of planting native versus non-native plant species in drylands. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Journal of Arid Environments ISSN: 0140-1963 (Print), (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.