Rate My Professor John Stephens

Emeritus Professor John Stephens serves in the School of Design and the Built Environment within the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University, where he holds the position of Casual Academic. A qualified architect with a PhD, membership of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), and Member of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (M.ICOMOS), Stephens previously practiced as an architectural professional for 15 years. His academic career at Curtin University dates back to at least 1994, during which he was Professor in the Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture. He has been recognized with the prestigious title of Emeritus Professor and has contributed extensively as a thesis supervisor for PhD students in architecture and related fields.

Stephens specializes in architecture, with research interests centered on architectural history, cultural heritage, war memory and commemoration, cultural memory, and the psychosocial dimensions of historic urban landscapes. Key publications include 'Circuits of Memory: The War Memory Boom in Western Australia' (Societies, 2012), 'The Ghosts of Menin Gate: Art, Architecture and Commemoration' (Journal of Contemporary History, 2009), 'Memory, Commemoration and the Meaning of a Suburban War Memorial' (Journal of Material Culture, 2007), and 'Poisonous Atmospheres: Ventilation and the Late Nineteenth Century Building' (Architectural Science Review). He co-edited the book 'Indian Ocean Futures: Communities, Sustainability and Security' (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2016) with Thor Kerr. Recent collaborative works feature 'Towards Psychosocial Well-Being in Historic Urban Landscapes: The Contribution of Cultural Memory' (Urban Science, 2020) with Fatmaelzahraa Hussein and Reena Tiwari, and 'Trauma and Healing at Western Australia's Former Native Institutions Sites' (AlterNative, 2020) with Reena Tiwari. His scholarly impact extends to practical initiatives, such as overseeing the redevelopment of a derelict site in Lakhnu Village, India, into an educational playground (2014), leading projects on healing centres for Stolen Generations survivors, and contributing to a team that won the 2020 Curtinnovation Award for an immersive visualization treatment for hearing loss. Stephens has served on the Heritage Council of Western Australia as a councillor, influencing heritage policy and conservation efforts in the region.