Mike Barthelmeh

Biography

Mike holds an undergraduate degree in Horticultural Science with a PG Diploma and a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture. He has worked professionally in the UK in a multi-disciplinary company and for a London borough council, and has worked in New Zealand for central and local government in Dunedin and Christchurch. Mike has taught at Lincoln since 1986 and has held the position of Academic Programme Manager (now Academic Manager (Students)) in the Faculty of Environment, Society and Design since 1999. He has been active in the NZILA at a national level, serving three terms on the executive committee (one as vice-president), drafting a Landscape Charter for New Zealand and completing major updates to the constitution, professional practice documents, and the institution website. Mike was invited in 2012 to present lectures at Tongji University in Shanghai, and the Inner Mongolia Agricultural University in Hohhot. Mike delivered a workshop in Singapore on "The role of Green Infrastructure in the Sustainable City: A Vision for Singapore" in March 2014, with colleague Dr Wendy McWilliam. This workshop continued his involvement with teaching in Singapore, which began in 1997 when he initiated and managed the development of an Advanced Diploma programme with the National Parks Board. This led to Lincoln offering landscape education in Singapore on a full-time basis, with Mike taking the role of Inaugural Programme Leader for four years.

Research Interest

Mike's research is focused on the professional practice of landscape architecture in New Zealand, including the organisational structures supporting that practice. He is also interested in the relationship between personality profiles, learning styles and design thinking in studio courses. He is currently undertaking research on: a profile of the landscape profession in New Zealand, personality profiles and learning styles, design thinking, carbon and embodied energy footprints of common landscape construction materials.