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)

241 - 260 of 533 works

2003

Conference Publication

Regional restructuring, neoliberalism, individualisation and the community: the recent Australian experience

Lawrence, G. and Herbert-Cheshire, L. (2003). Regional restructuring, neoliberalism, individualisation and the community: the recent Australian experience. Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Sligo, Ireland, 18-23 August 2003.

Regional restructuring, neoliberalism, individualisation and the community: the recent Australian experience

2003

Conference Publication

'It's that Catch 22': overgrazing today and tomorrow

Moffatt, J. and Lawrence, G. (2003). 'It's that Catch 22': overgrazing today and tomorrow. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 4-6 December 2003.

'It's that Catch 22': overgrazing today and tomorrow

2003

Conference Publication

Sustainable regional development: recovering lost ground

Lawrence, G. (2003). Sustainable regional development: recovering lost ground. The Social Dimensions of the Triple Bottom Line: One Day Seminar for Researchers, Canberra, Australia, 26 February 2003.

Sustainable regional development: recovering lost ground

2003

Book Chapter

Assessing the neoliberal experiment in Antipodean agriculture

Campbell, H. and Lawrence, G. A. (2003). Assessing the neoliberal experiment in Antipodean agriculture. Globalization, Localization and Sustainable Livelihoods. (pp. 89-101) edited by R. Almas and G. Lawrence. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. doi: 10.4324/9781315194240

Assessing the neoliberal experiment in Antipodean agriculture

2003

Book Chapter

Monto, Queensland

Cheshire, L. A. and Lawrence, G. A. (2003). Monto, Queensland. Community Sustainability in Rural Australia: A Question of Capital?. (pp. 10-37) edited by C. Cocklin and M. Alston. Wagga Wagga: Centre for Rural Res., Charles Sturt Univ.

Monto, Queensland

2003

Journal Article

The over-production of US sports and the new International Division of Cultural Labor

Miller, Toby, Rowe, David, McKay, Jim and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2003). The over-production of US sports and the new International Division of Cultural Labor. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 38 (4), 427-440. doi: 10.1177/1012690203384004

The over-production of US sports and the new International Division of Cultural Labor

2003

Conference Publication

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

Lawrence, G., Richards, C. and Herbert-Cheshire, L. (2003). The environmental enigma: why do producers professing stewardship continue to practice poor natural resource management?. Xth Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Akaroa, New Zealand, 21-24 April 2003.

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

2003

Conference Publication

The regional promise

Lawrence, G. (2003). The regional promise. Forum of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, 'Community-based Regional Planning: Are we Getting it Right?', Brisbane, Australia, 18 September 2003.

The regional promise

2002

Journal Article

The state of Australia's regions

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2002). The state of Australia's regions. Government News, 21 (11), 11-11.

The state of Australia's regions

2002

Conference Publication

Towards sustainability? Resource dependency and development in rural Australia

Herbert-Cheshire, L. A. and Lawrence, G. A. (2002). Towards sustainability? Resource dependency and development in rural Australia. TASA 2002 Conference, Brisbane`, 5-6 July, 2002. Australia: TASA.

Towards sustainability? Resource dependency and development in rural Australia

2002

Conference Publication

From the paddock to the plate: 'Quality' and beef commodity chains in Central Queensland

Lawrence, G. A., Reis, J and Lockie, S. (2002). From the paddock to the plate: 'Quality' and beef commodity chains in Central Queensland. USA: International Sociological Assoc.

From the paddock to the plate: 'Quality' and beef commodity chains in Central Queensland

2002

Conference Publication

Globalisation, community and Australian social research: Challenges and opportunities: Plenary Address

Lawrence, G. A. (2002). Globalisation, community and Australian social research: Challenges and opportunities: Plenary Address. Australian Association of Social Research, Hydro Majestic Hotel, Katoomba, 1-4 October, 2002. Australia: Australian Assoc of Social Research.

Globalisation, community and Australian social research: Challenges and opportunities: Plenary Address

2002

Journal Article

Eating 'Green': Motivations behind organic food consumption in Australia

Lockie, Stewart, Lyons, Kristen, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Mummery, Kerry (2002). Eating 'Green': Motivations behind organic food consumption in Australia. Sociologia Ruralis, 42 (1), 23-40. doi: 10.1111/1467-9523.00200

Eating 'Green': Motivations behind organic food consumption in Australia

2002

Conference Publication

Organics and biotechnology: Never the twain shall meet?

Lawrence, G. A., Norton, J., Lockie, S. and Lyons, K. (2002). Organics and biotechnology: Never the twain shall meet?. World Congress of Sociology: International Sociological Assoc., Research Committee on Agriculture & Food, x, 2002. USA: International Sociological Assoc.

Organics and biotechnology: Never the twain shall meet?

2002

Journal Article

Political economy and the challenge of governance

Herbert-Cheshire, L. A. and Lawrence, G. A. (2002). Political economy and the challenge of governance. Journal of Australian Political Economy, 1 (50), 135-145.

Political economy and the challenge of governance

2002

Conference Publication

Localism, community and the politics of organic food systems

Lawrence, G. A., Lyons, K. and Lockie, S. (2002). Localism, community and the politics of organic food systems. Cultivating Communities, 14th IFOAM Organic World Conference, Victoria, Canada, 21-24 August, 2002. Canada: IFOAM.

Localism, community and the politics of organic food systems

2002

Conference Publication

A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune

Lawrence, G. A. and Gray, I. W. (2002). A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune. SEGRA Conference,2001, Thuringowa, Queensland, September 2001. Australia: SEGRA.

A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune

2002

Conference Publication

Why do people eat organic food? A multivariate analysis of organic food choice by Australian consumers

Lawrence, G. A., Lockie, S., Mummery, K. and Lyons, K. (2002). Why do people eat organic food? A multivariate analysis of organic food choice by Australian consumers. World Congress of Sociology, International Sociological Assoc, Brisbane, 7-13 July 2002. USA: International Sociological Assoc.

Why do people eat organic food? A multivariate analysis of organic food choice by Australian consumers

2002

Journal Article

Capacity for change? Testing a model for inclusion of social indicators in Australia's national land and water resources audit

Lockie, S., Lawrence, G. A., Dale, A. P. and Taylor, B. (2002). Capacity for change? Testing a model for inclusion of social indicators in Australia's national land and water resources audit. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 45 (6), 813-826. doi: 10.1080/0964056022000024352

Capacity for change? Testing a model for inclusion of social indicators in Australia's national land and water resources audit

2002

Conference Publication

Global moves on the local level - community supported agriculture

Lyons, K., Lockie, S. and Lawrence, G. (2002). Global moves on the local level - community supported agriculture. Australian Organics Conference 'Local Global Organics', Lismore, NSW, Australia, 3-4 October 2002.

Global moves on the local level - community supported agriculture

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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