University of Queensland lecturer Dr. Liz Brogden is named the 2022 Churchill Fellow

University of Queensland School of Architecture lecturer Dr. Liz Brogden has been awarded the coveted 2022 Churchill Fellowship for her pioneering work that combines climate ethics and professional instruction. 

Brogden is considered an influential figure within the country’s academic design community, recently spearheading the creation of the first mandatory course on climate change in an Australian Master of Architecture program that is set to be implemented at the school in 2023.

“Sustainability in architecture is nothing new but applying that expertise to the problem of climate change is very new,” she said of the urgencies laden in her scholarship and course design. “We know we’re only going to see more frequent extreme weather events and higher temperatures, so what’s being designed now needs to be resilient.”

As a Churchill Fellow, Brogden will be able to further her academic pursuits by attending next year’s COP28 summit in the UAE and traveling to the UK, Netherlands, and Finland to seek out advice from other architects whom she considers pioneers in order to “explore progressive climate literacy frameworks globally and understand possible transition pathways for architecture in our region.”

“Effective climate action requires collaborative effort,” she said of her efforts finally. “Climate literacy needs to be developed in university programs, right through to informing degree accreditation standards, pathways to registration as an architect and continuing professional development requirements.”

More information about the Churchill Fellowship program can be found here.