Dr Gillian Lawson

Teaching Area: Landscape Architecture Dr Gill Lawson encourages students during their professionally accredited coursework in the Bachelor of Design (Honours) to also consider a project-based study in the Masters of Design (Research). Some may even go on to do a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)in Landscape Architecture. She has taught the following:

• Landscape Design Studio 8
• Landscape Design Studio 7
• Research Methods
• Work Integrated Learning Study Project in Vietnam
• Work Integrated Learning in Internships
• Landscape Planning & Policy
• Geographical Information Systems
• Landscape Management
• People and Environment
• Landscape Ecology and Physical Geography
• Plant Ecology and Planting Design
• Environmental Design
• Professional Skills
• Computer Skills
• Sustainable Development in China
• Synthetic Environments
• Horticultural Skills

In Landscape Design 7 and 8, Dr Lawson’s teaching in the final year of landscape architecture is focused on complex problem-based learning in multi-scalar landscapes. She encourages her 4th year students to:

• identify a problem or challenge facing a local community,
• study and apply past and contemporary theoretical concepts to planning and design,
• consider making landscape changes from various environmental and social perspectives.

In Research Methods, her students are encouraged to:

• integrate data collection, analysis and interpretation with their design work,
• identify and use other research studies to inform their work and
• improve their design outcomes through an evidence-based approach.

In the Work Integrated Learning units, she looks for opportunities in our everyday world for students to apply their knowledge, skills and leadership to culturally-driven planning and design, particularly in landscape architecture. This may be through immersion, practice or research in the culture of a different workplace, community, city or region of the world.