Benz Kotzen

Dr Benz Kotzen PhD, Dip.LA, MAFA, BAFA (Hons)

Professor of Landscape Architecture and Nature Based Solutions

Key details

Dr Benz Kotzen

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.

Architecture Landscape architecture

Art and design - history, practice and theory

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

Recent publications

Article

Kotzen, Benz , Paradelo Perez, Marcos, Fruscella, Lorenzo (2024), Feeding Mars: a pilot study growing vegetables using aquaponic effluent fertiliser in simulant and analogue Martian regoliths. European Ecocycles Society (ECyS). In: , , , . European Ecocycles Society (ECyS), Ecocycles: Scientific journal of the European Ecocycles Society, 10 (1) . pp. 1-17 ISSN: 2416-2140 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.19040/ecocycles.v10i1.391).

Palm, Harry W. , Knaus, Ulrich, Kotzen, Benzion (2023), Aquaponics nomenclature matters: it is about principles and technologies and not as much about coupling. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Reviews in Aquaculture, 13 (1) . pp. 473-490 ISSN: 1753-5123 (Print), 1753-5131 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12847).

Fruscella, Lorenzo , Kotzen, Benzion, Paradelo Perez, Marcos, Milliken, Sarah (2023), Investigating the effects of fish effluents as organic fertilisers on onion (Allium cepa) yield, soil nutrients, and soil microbiome. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Scientia Horticulturae, 321: 112297 . pp. 1-13 ISSN: 0304-4238 (Print), 1879-1018 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112297).

Kotzen, Benzion , Galea, Edwin, Mosco, Shelley, Wang, Zhaozhi , Ewer, John , Jia, Fuchen (2023), Fire safety risks of external living walls and implications for regulatory guidance in England. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, Fire Safety Journal, 139: 103816 . pp. 1-14 ISSN: 0379-7112 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2023.103816).

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).

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: ).

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).

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