Staff Profile

Ruth is Emerita Professor of Biological Architecture in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

She was founding Head of School X (Newcastle University's Multi, Inter and Transdisciplinary School) 2021-2025 where she oversaw the its three founding units: Philosophy, Combined Honours and Researcher Education Development, alongside the development of new interdisciplinary courses and projects. 

She joined Newcastle University in January 2020, becoming a research lead within the Hub of Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE) where she explored the emerging territories of Biological Architecture; contributed to this new area of knowledge and its application; and supported the development of the OME (HBBE's experimental building) and its large scale physical prototypes through collaborations with other researchers, industry and end-users. She co-lead the HBBE Research theme: Responsible Interactions 

Prior to joining Newcastle University she was Professor of Architecture at Queen's University Belfast (2009-2019) and Ulster University, Belfast (2003-2009). She also worked at Sheffield University, Dundee University and University College Dublin. 

Her research (ongoing), is a combination of practice-based research and writing, encompasses both the material, the social and the ecological. It is driven by an inclusive, feminist ethos and uses tactics of creativity, collaboration and critical reflection. She has extensive experience in developing material ideas from concept through to commercialisation, resulting in international funding, design awards, exhibitions and citations, She is also informed by working with critical users in critical contexts.

Ruth was also recognised as an innovative design teacher, winning awards for teaching excellence across her career. She continues to write about and be an advocate for live projects ie project based teaching, and interdisciplinary learning. She designed and lead several courses of architecture at both undergraduate and postgraduate level and is a very experienced external examiner (at UG, PGT and PGR) and external consultant to architecture courses in the UK, Ireland and Internationally. 

See Ruth's personal website for further information on publications and outcomes