Key details
Professor Benz Kotzen
Emeritus Professor of Landscape Architecture and Nature Based Solutions
Dr Benz Kotzen is 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's research focuses on real world issues and solving them by combining new and old technologies with innovative and tried and tested natural solutions. He has specific expertise in arid lands, restoration and aquaponics. He also initiated and manages the green roofs on the Stockwell Street building in Greenwich, which are an exemplar of ecosystem services provision in the city. He has taught at the University of Greenwich for over 25 years. He has chaired the EU Aquaponics Hub and the EU Desert Restoration Hub.
Responsibilities within the university
- Post Graduate Landscape Coordinator
- 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
Awarded Green Champion 2023
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