معرفی
Gillian Lawson is an Associate Professor at the School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, New Zealand, where she has been serving since 2018. She also holds the position of Co-Director of the China-New Zealand Joint International Lab for Climate Change Response with Beijing Forestry University since 2024. Previously, she was Head of School of Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University from 2018-2022 and held various academic positions at Queensland University of Technology in Australia from 2003-2017, including Head of Discipline of Landscape Architecture from 2014-2017.
Dr. Lawson earned her PhD from Queensland University of Technology (2001-2007), Master of Agricultural Science (Research) from University of Sydney (1985-1991), Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) from University of New England (1980-1983), Graduate Certificate in Education from QUT (1998-2000), and Graduate Diploma of Landscape Architecture (Distinction) from QUT (1995-1996).
Her research interests focus on the intersection of landscape architecture with climate change adaptation, particularly examining water and food systems as catalysts for improving urban resilience. She investigates landscape pedagogy, landscape visualization techniques, and landscape sociology across Australia, New Zealand, and other Asia-Pacific countries. Her work explores social practices in public and private open spaces, green infrastructure, and waterfront communities in landscape planning and design.
Dr. Lawson's scholarly contributions demonstrate a strong focus on sustainable urban development, flood mitigation through green infrastructure, mental health benefits of landscape design, and climate change adaptation strategies. Her recent work shows increasing emphasis on international collaborations, particularly with China, and on translating research into practical applications for community resilience.
- Elected to Board of Trustees for the Landscape Research Group (UK) (2021-present)
- Associate Editor for Landscape Research (2022-present)
- Chief Editor for Landscape Review (2023-present)
- Guest Editor for Special Issue in Land on Innovative Solutions for Mitigating Coastal Flooding (2023)
- Co-Director of China-New Zealand Joint International Lab for Climate Change Response (2024-present)
- Senior Fellow, UK Professional Standards Framework (2017-present)
- Registered Landscape Architect (New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, 2019-present)
Dr. Lawson has supervised numerous PhD students to completion across diverse topics including carbon sequestration in urban wetlands, flood mitigation strategies, participatory landscape architecture, and campus landscape design for health promotion. She currently supervises four PhD candidates working on projects related to nature deficit disorder, water citizenship, high-density communities with blue-green infrastructure, and playground design for UV protection. Her research has been supported by various scholarships including LU Doctoral Scholarships, CSC Scholarships, and AusAid Scholarships.
She is actively involved with the Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory Trust as an MOU Partner Advisor and collaborates with the Landscape Research Group (UK) and the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects. Her work aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals including Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-Being, Quality Education, Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Life on Land.