Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence
Emeritus Professor

Geoffrey Lawrence

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Background

Geoff is a leading Australian sociologist with interests in rural and regional sociology, globalisation/localisation and agrifood research.

He attended James Ruse Agricultural High School in Sydney and was School Captain in 1968. He then completed a degree in agricultural economics at Sydney University in 1972. This was followed by a diploma in social science (UNE), Master of Science in Sociology (Wisconisn-Madison) and a PhD (Griffith). In 1992 he became Associate Professor of Sociology and Foundation Director, Centre for Rural Social Research, at Charles Sturt University before moving later that year to Central Queensland University as Foundation Professor of Sociology (1992-2002) and Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Regional Development (1998-2002). He joined The University of Queensland as Professor of Sociology and Head of the School of Social Science in 2002. He is a Life Member of the Fitzroy Basin Association, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Life Member of the Australian Sociological Association, and was President of the International Rural Sociology Association (2012-2016). He became Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Queensland in 2014.

His full profile can be seen at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Lawrence_(sociologist)

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Not available for supervision

Fields of research

Sociology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
  • Postgraduate Diploma, University of New England Australia
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Wisconsin
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University

Research interests

  • Agriculture, the Environment and the Politics of Sustainability

    The questions are: To what extent is 'greening' and green politics influencing the course of agricultural development and resulting in policies aimed at reducing ecological destruction? What is the nature of the debates and theorisations regarding productivism/post-productivism in the rural landscapes of advance economies? In a practical sense, how is it possible to ensure that current and future natural resource management will provide sustainable outcomes for society?

  • Globalisation, Localisation and Restructuring of Regional Australia

    This is a broad area whcih includes an examination of the social affects of economic change upon regions and highlights town decline, poverty, unemployment and ill-health - as well as the 'ingredients' for successful community development and the enhancement of social capital. Issues of empowerment and governance are crucial to the understanding of the future of the regions. The issue of global/local relations is also of significance - particularly as Australian governments seek to promote 'self help' and 'partnership' options.

  • Financialisation of Food and Farming

    Finance capital is playing an increasingly important role in food and farming industries. Entities like merchant banks, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and hedge funds are purchasing farmlands and agribusinesses in an effort to increase returns to shareholders. However, some of these activities are speculative and lead to food price distortions; others impact upon traditional owners when so-called 'land grabs' force producers from their farms. 'Financialisation' is seen as being as important as globalisation and neoliberalism in altering the face of food and farming.

Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace

533 works between 1980 and 2024
All (533) Journal Article (163) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (29) Other Outputs (9) Edited Outputs (4)

201 - 220 of 533 works

2005

Conference Publication

Multi-sector collaboration in Central Queensland: bringing the state back in?

Loechel, B., Cheshire, L. and Lawrence, G. (2005). Multi-sector collaboration in Central Queensland: bringing the state back in?. International Conference on Engaging Communities, Brisbane, Australia, 14-17 August 2005.

Multi-sector collaboration in Central Queensland: bringing the state back in?

2005

Book Chapter

Promoting Sustainable Development: The Question of Governance

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2005). Promoting Sustainable Development: The Question of Governance. New directions in the sociology of global development. (pp. 145-174) edited by Frederick H. Buttel and Philip McMichael. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier.

Promoting Sustainable Development: The Question of Governance

2005

Other Outputs

Engaged Government: A Study of Government-Community Engagement for Regional Outcomes, Report 2: Selection of Case Studies

Bishop, Patrick James, Cheshire, Lynda, Howes, Michael James, Lawrence, Geoff, Liebrecht, Tanya Louise, Loechel, Barton, Oliver, Peter, Rolfe, John and Yee, Shion (2005). Engaged Government: A Study of Government-Community Engagement for Regional Outcomes, Report 2: Selection of Case Studies. Central Queensland University, Rockhampton.

Engaged Government: A Study of Government-Community Engagement for Regional Outcomes, Report 2: Selection of Case Studies

2005

Conference Publication

Changing visions/static practices: culture, tradition and sustainability in the beef heartland

Richards, C. and Lawrence, G. (2005). Changing visions/static practices: culture, tradition and sustainability in the beef heartland. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Hobart, Tasmania, 6-8 December 2005.

Changing visions/static practices: culture, tradition and sustainability in the beef heartland

2005

Book

Agricultural governance: Globalization and the new politics of regulation

Vaughan Higgins and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (2005). Agricultural governance: Globalization and the new politics of regulation. Routledge Advances in Sociology, London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203698907

Agricultural governance: Globalization and the new politics of regulation

2004

Journal Article

The environmental enigma: Why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol and Cheshire, Lynda (2004). The environmental enigma: Why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 6 (3/4), 251-270. doi: 10.1080/1523908042000344069

The environmental enigma: Why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management

2004

Book Chapter

Consumer views of organic and GM food

Lyons, K., Lockie, S. and Lawrence, G. A. (2004). Consumer views of organic and GM food. Recoding Nature: Critical Perspectives on Genetic Engineering. (pp. 94-107) edited by R. HIndmarsh and G. Lawrence. Sydney: UNSW Press.

Consumer views of organic and GM food

2004

Journal Article

Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture in Central Queensland

Grice, Janet and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2004). Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture in Central Queensland. The International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Society, 2 (2), 66-81.

Biotechnology and sustainable agriculture in Central Queensland

2004

Conference Publication

Managing nature: The promises and problems of sustainable development in regional Australia, Plenary Address

Lawrence, G. A. and Cheshire, L. A. (2004). Managing nature: The promises and problems of sustainable development in regional Australia, Plenary Address. Ecopolitics XV Conference. Environmental Governance: Transforming Regions & Localities, Macquarie University, Sydney, 12-14 November, 2004. Sydney: Maquarie Univ.

Managing nature: The promises and problems of sustainable development in regional Australia, Plenary Address

2004

Book Chapter

Environmental sustainability in the beef grazing sector of Central Queensland: What helps, what hinders?

Richards, Carol, Lawrence, Geoff and Cheshire, Lynda (2004). Environmental sustainability in the beef grazing sector of Central Queensland: What helps, what hinders?. Social innovations in natural resources management handbook. (pp. 65-67) edited by Carol Richards and Lyn Aitken. Brisbane, Australia: Department of Natural Resources & Mines.

Environmental sustainability in the beef grazing sector of Central Queensland: What helps, what hinders?

2004

Book Chapter

Sports media sans frontieres

Miller, T., Lawrence, G. A., Mckay, J. and Rowe, D. (2004). Sports media sans frontieres. Critical Readings: Sport, Culture and the Media. (pp. 84-98) edited by D. Rowe. Maidenhead, United Kingdom: McGraw Hill.

Sports media sans frontieres

2004

Book Chapter

Foreword in social Innovations in natural resource management

Lawrence, G. (2004). Foreword in social Innovations in natural resource management. Social innovations in natural resources management handbook. (pp. i-ii) edited by C. Richards and L. Aitken. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Foreword in social Innovations in natural resource management

2004

Conference Publication

Consumer evaluation of risks associated with GM crops

Lawrence, G. A. and Grice, J. C. (2004). Consumer evaluation of risks associated with GM crops. XI World Congress of Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norway, 25-30 July, 2004. USA: International Rural Sociology Assoc.

Consumer evaluation of risks associated with GM crops

2004

Book Chapter

Recoding nature: Deciphering the scripts

Hindmarsh, R. and Lawrence, G. A. (2004). Recoding nature: Deciphering the scripts. Recoding Nature: Critical Perspectives on Genetic Engineering. (pp. 23-41) edited by R. HIndmarsh and G. Lawrence. Sydney: UNSW Press.

Recoding nature: Deciphering the scripts

2004

Conference Publication

Supermarket own brands, supply chains and the changing agri-food system: the UK experience

Burch, D. and Lawrence, G. (2004). Supermarket own brands, supply chains and the changing agri-food system: the UK experience. XI Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Canberra, Australia, 9-11 June 2004.

Supermarket own brands, supply chains and the changing agri-food system: the UK experience

2004

Other Outputs

Technical Review of the CQ Strategy for Sustainability 2.

Lawrence, Geoffrey A. (2004). Technical Review of the CQ Strategy for Sustainability 2.. Rockhampton: The Fitzroy Basin Association.

Technical Review of the CQ Strategy for Sustainability 2.

2004

Book Chapter

Foreword

Lawrence, G. (2004). Foreword. Social Innovations in Natural Resource Management Handbook. (pp. i-ii) Brisbane, QLD Australia: Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Foreword

2004

Book

Recoding nature: Critical perspectives on genetic engineering

Richard Hindmarsh and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (2004). Recoding nature: Critical perspectives on genetic engineering. Sydney, Australia: UNSW Press.

Recoding nature: Critical perspectives on genetic engineering

2004

Journal Article

The end of the rural

Lawrence, G. A. (2004). The end of the rural. Nexus, 16 (1), 13-14.

The end of the rural

2004

Conference Publication

Promoting sustainable development: The question of governance. Plenary address

Lawrence, G. A. (2004). Promoting sustainable development: The question of governance. Plenary address. XI World Congress of Rural Sociology, Trondheim, Norway, 25-30 July, 2004. USA: International Rural Sociology Assoc.

Promoting sustainable development: The question of governance. Plenary address

Past funding

  • 2016 - 2021
    Food, Farming and Financialisation: Agri-food Transformations in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Frogs, fuel, finance or food? Cultures, values, ethics, arguments and justifications in the management of agricultural land (FORFOOD)
    Centre for Rural Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Governing Food Security in Australia in an Era of Climate Change: A Sociological Analysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Local government, mining companies and resources development in regional Australia: meeting the governance challenge
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Globally Engaged? Responses to Neoliberal Globalisation among Family Farmers in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Review of the Community Futures Task Force (Stage 1)
    Community Futures Task Force Unit
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    From Seedling to Supermarket: The Social and Environmental Implications for Australia of the Restructuring of Agri-food Supply Chains
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2009
    ARC Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science
    ARC Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Organics, environment and sustainability
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Agri-food Applications of Genetically-Modified Organisms: Public Perceptions Risk and Sustainability
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Building sustainable social capital in new communities.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2006
    Engaged government: a study of government-community engagement for regional outcomes
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2003
    The social construct of safe foods: Uncertainty, risk and trust in agri-food applications of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2003
    An Analysis of the Patterns of Consumption, Community Impacts and Returns on Investment of Rural Popular Cultural Activities
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2006
    Governance, institutional capacity and regional planning: A Central Queensland case study.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Farmer adoption of sustainable land management practices in the Fitzroy Basin, Central Queensland.
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    The Sustainability of Australian Rural Communities
    Academy of Social Sciences
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change in Rural Fiji: Reproduction, Erosion and Limitations of Social Resilience in Intercultural Domains

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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