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Dr Michael Short
Senior Teaching Fellow in Planning
The Bartlett School of Planning
Faculty of the Built Environment
- Joined UCL
- 14th Sep 2015
Research summary
An urbanist and conservator interested in issues of design quality in the historic environment, I undertake practice-based projects, teaching and research across the planning-urban design-architecture fields with my interests centred around:
- the management of change in complex urban areas;
- the role of planning in delivering high quality design;
- the conservation of buildings and townscapes of the recent past;
- tall building proposals and their impact on the character of cities;
- densification strategies and the impact upon character of cities; and
- studio based teaching methods, and group work.
I would welcome research students in these broad areas.
I am currently leading a project on 'queering the curriculum' with staff and student colleagues across the Bartlett. Our project aims to i) explore queer perspectives in our disciplines and seeks to reframe our teaching and learning to reflect these, in conjunction with the decolonising agenda, ii) collate a resource for staff and students which reflects and compliments the Bartlett’s work on race and space, and iii) sets out an institution-leading agenda to queer the curriculum.
Teaching summary
I am a passionate teacher who seeks to engage and inspire students to achieve their full potential in their studies.
I coordinate the following modules:
BPLN0005 Plan-Making Studio I (PG)
BPLN0008 Dissertation in City Planning (PG)
BPLN0007 Work Placement in City Planning (PG)
BPLN0068 Planning Practices for Urban Development in Historic Areas (PG)
I also teach on the following modules:
BPLN0043 From Strategic Vision to Urban Plan (PG)
BPLN0034 Sustainable Futures By Design (PG)
BPLN0106 Sustainable Urban Development Project (PG)
As part of the Student Choice Awards, I have been nominated for the following awards by students:
‘Excellent Personal Tutoring' 2019-20.
'Inspiring Teaching Delivery’ and ‘Amazing Support’ 2018-19.
‘Excellent Personal Tutoring’ 2017-18.
‘Outstanding Teaching’, and ‘Outstanding Personal Support’ 2016-2017.
Education
- Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ04 - Recognised by the HEA as a Senior Fellow |
- Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), ATQ07 - Holder of a PGCE in higher education, secondary edu, further edu, life long lear |
- University of West England
- Other Postgraduate qualification (including professional), Postgraduate Certificate in Education | 2009
- University of Manchester
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2007
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Other higher degree, Master of Arts | 2001
- University of Dundee
- First Degree, Bachelor of Science | 1994
Biography
I have been at the Bartlett since September 2015 having worked as a planner/urban designer/conservation officer across a range of public and private organisations; for Salford City Council as the lead officer negotiating the design integration of the Metrolink tram system extension to Eccles (1994-97), as Senior Planner with Barton Willmore Planning Partnership (1998-99), then Network Rail as their conservation officer dealing with historic environment issues within the company’s estate (1999-2001). I then ran a two year ESRC-funded research project at the University of Manchester looking at strategic environmental assessment in plan-making (2001-2003). I read for my PhD at the University of Manchester looking at the impact of skyscraper proposals on the character of place, co-funded by the ESRC and English Heritage (now Historic England), and supervised by Professor Michael Hebbert (now UCL) and Dr Aidan While (now University of Sheffield) from 2003 to 2007. I worked at UWE Bristol from 2008-15 as Senior Lecturer in Planning and Urban Conservation.
I am a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), and am an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism.
I run the new 2-year MPlan City Planning programme. This innovative programme explores both domestic and international planning practice and culture, and offers the opportunity to further embed learning through either a term spent in planning practice, or at an international partner institution.
Additionally I have been a member of UCL's Academic Board since 2016, and have recently been elected to serve as a UK representative (substitute, from June 2020) to the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP).