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Biography of Professor Janis Birkeland
Janis Birkeland (21-8-1945) originated, taught and published extensively on net positive design and development since 2002. Net positive development refers to built environments that give back to society and nature more than they take in a whole system perspective. Positive development (PD) theory deconstructs the underlying institutional and intellectual biases that systematically reduce future options. By reversing these biases, positive frameworks emerge to enable built environments that increase future options and net public benefits. PD posits that this is possible but requires radically different planning, management, decision making and design frameworks. PD theory presents practical ways to transform these systems.

To establish the feasibility of net positive design, Birkeland developed decision tools, design concepts/prototypes and measurement systems that could do so (in conjunction with standard green design principles, passive and/or renewable energy systems, and so on). Eco-positive design innovations include the solar core, design for eco-services, green space wall, green scaffolding, piggyback roof and playgardens. These can all support ecosystem services and functions, while increasing life quality and human/environmental health. For example, in collaboration with several transdisciplinary scientists, it was shown that a building designed on PD principles could sequester more carbon than it emits over its entire life cycle.

Transdisciplinary background: Most recently Birkeland was Professor of Sustainable Design, University of Auckland (2.5 yrs). Immediately before, she was Professor of Architecture, Queensland University of Technology (2.5 yrs). In Australia, she taught architecture at the universities of Canberra and Tasmania, and was a research fellow at the ANU. During her 20 year academic career, Birkeland drew on her experience as an architect, advocacy planner, urban designer, city planner and attorney in San Francisco. Having learned of the threats to nature in early childhood, her transdisciplinary professional and education choices were made to better understand the dilemmas of sustainable development.

Educational background: Birkeland’s first degree (BA 1966 Bennington) was in fine arts. After working as an artist she studied architecture (MA 1972 Berkeley). From 1971, she worked as a registered architect and advocacy planner in low-income communities in San Francisco. From 1974, was an urban designer for the San Francisco City Planning Department, later transitioning into city planning. Meanwhile she did a law degree (JD 1979 UC Hastings) and worked on secondment in the City Attorney’s office on planning law cases. After moving to Australia in 1981, she did a PhD (1992 U of Tasmania) Planning for Sustainability, while undertaking design commissions.

Academic work: Birkeland took occasional leave from teaching architecture and sustainable systems in Australian and New Zealand to run some professional development courses overseas, serve as Australia’s Senior Environmental Education Officer and do some sustainability consulting. Over the years, she also contributed to many environmental groups, served on boards of several national sustainability organizations and gave at least 125 invited or keynote lectures in several countries. She published over 125 papers on sustainable development, planning and design, including Design for Sustainability (2002), Mapping Regional Metabolism (2003) and Positive Development: from vicious circles to virtuous cycles through built environment design (2008).

Selected publications
Birkeland, J. (2008) Positive Development: From Vicious Circles to Virtuous Cycles through Built Environment Design, Earthscan, London.

Birkeland, J. (2002) Design for Sustainability; a Sourcebook of Integrated Eco-logical Solutions, Earthscan, London.

Recent book chapters
Birkeland, J. (2015) ‘Planning for Positive Development’, in J. Byrne, J. Dodson and N. Sipe (Eds.), Australian Environmental Planning: Challenges and Future Prospects, Routledge, pp. 246-257.

Birkeland, J. (2014) ‘Systems and Social Change for Sustainable and resilient Cities’, L. Pearson, P. Newton and P. Roberts (Eds), Resilient Sustainable Cities, Routledge, UK, pp. 66-82.

Birkeland, J. (2014) ‘Resilient and Sustainable Buildings’, L. Pearson, P. Newton and P. Roberts (Eds), Resilient Sustainable Cities, Routledge, UK, pp. 146-159.

Birkeland, J. (2013) ‘The Emergence of Design for Sustainability: and Onward and Upward…’, in S. Walker and J. Giard (Eds.), Handbook of Sustainable Design, Berg Publishers, Oxford, UK, pp. 73-92.

Birkeland, J. (2013) Business Opportunities through Positive Development’, in A New Dynamic: Effective Business in a Circular Economy, in K. Webster, J. Bleriot, and C. Johnston (Eds)  Ellen MacArthur Foundation Publishing, Isle of Wight, UK, pp. 87-110.