Becky Sobell

Becky Sobell is a Reader in Landscape Architecture and Programme Lead for the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) course at the Manchester School of Architecture (Manchester Metropolitan University). She joined the institution in 2009 and specializes in interdisciplinary pedagogy addressing climate crisis and human-environment entanglement. Her research focuses on urban ecosystems, material culture, and collaborative environmental practices. Sobell’s work includes award-winning projects like Angel Field (2011), which explored human-nature narratives through landscape design. She has co-authored influential works on design pedagogy, including chapters in Representing Landscapes (Routledge), and collaborated with institutions globally. As an external examiner, she has reviewed programs at the University of Sheffield, Birmingham City University, and others. Her pedagogical initiatives include leading MSA Live, a student-driven live project series, and directing the ‘Some Kind of Nature’ atelier, emphasizing multi-species collaboration in design.

Education: BA Hons. Linguistics (University of Manchester), Postgraduate Degree in Landscape Architecture.

Research Projects: Includes 'Unearthing Hidden Traces' with Tim Edensor, 'Hardrock Revision' (USA), and 'The Ute Ulay Project' (Colorado). Her work bridges art, ecology, and urbanism, often involving transdisciplinary collaborations.

Exhibitions: Over 15 international exhibitions, including Hardrock Revision Collaborative Vision (2011, USA), Manchester Urban Pioneers (2015, Germany), and multiple solo/group shows in China and Europe.