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)

261 - 280 of 533 works

2001

Book

Altered Genes II: The Future?

Hindmarsh, R. A. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Altered Genes II: The Future?. 2 ed. Melbourne: Scribe Publications.

Altered Genes II: The Future?

2001

Book

A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune

Gray, Ian and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2001). A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.

A future for regional Australia: Escaping global misfortune

2001

Conference Publication

Governance, 'local' knowledge and the adoption of sustainable farming practices

Higgins, V., Lockie, S. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Governance, 'local' knowledge and the adoption of sustainable farming practices. 8th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM), Brisbane QLD Australia, July 1999. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Governance, 'local' knowledge and the adoption of sustainable farming practices

2001

Book Chapter

Agri-genetics, Food Consumption and the Environment: Science and the Australian Public

Lawrence, G., Norton, J. and Wood, G. (2001). Agri-genetics, Food Consumption and the Environment: Science and the Australian Public . Consuming Foods, Sustaining Environments. (pp. 63-81) edited by Lockie, S. and Pritchard, B.. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Australian Academic Press.

Agri-genetics, Food Consumption and the Environment: Science and the Australian Public

2001

Conference Publication

Organic: what do consumers really think?

Lyons, K., Lockie, S. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Organic: what do consumers really think?. Third National Public Health Association of Australia Food and Nutrition Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 15-17 July 2001.

Organic: what do consumers really think?

2001

Conference Publication

Organic foods: Australian consumer motivations, concerns and preferences

Lockie, S., Lyons, K., Lawrence, G., Norton, J. and Mummery, K. (2001). Organic foods: Australian consumer motivations, concerns and preferences. IX Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 11-14 September 2001.

Organic foods: Australian consumer motivations, concerns and preferences

2001

Conference Publication

Creating the active citizen: fostering entrepreneurship in rural Australia

Herbert-Cheshire, L. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Creating the active citizen: fostering entrepreneurship in rural Australia. XIX Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Dijon, France, 3-7 September 2001.

Creating the active citizen: fostering entrepreneurship in rural Australia

2001

Book Chapter

Bio-utopia: Future Natural?

Hindmarsh, R. A. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Bio-utopia: Future Natural?. Altered Genes II: The Future?. (pp. 11-35) edited by R. Hindmarsh and G. Lawrence. Melbourne: Scribe Publications.

Bio-utopia: Future Natural?

2001

Journal Article

Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal

Gray, Ian and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2001). Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal. Rural Society: the journal of research into rural and regional social issues in Australia, 11 (3), 283-298. doi: 10.5172/rsj.11.3.283

Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal

2001

Journal Article

Review of Joseph Maguire, Global Sport: Identities, Societies, Civilizations

Lawrence, G. and Greer, L. (2001). Review of Joseph Maguire, Global Sport: Identities, Societies, Civilizations. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 36 (1), 94-96.

Review of Joseph Maguire, Global Sport: Identities, Societies, Civilizations

2001

Journal Article

Review of One-eyed: a view of Australian sport

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2001). Review of One-eyed: a view of Australian sport. Culture, Sport, Society, 4 (3), 116-119.

Review of One-eyed: a view of Australian sport

2001

Book Chapter

Introduction

Lawrence, G., Higgins, V. and Lockie, S. (2001). Introduction. Environment, Society and Natural Resource Management. (pp. 1-15) edited by Lawrence, G., Higgins, V. and Lockie, S.. London, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar.

Introduction

2001

Conference Publication

Keynote Address: 'Self Help' in natural resource management: the way forward for regional Australia?

Lawrence, G. (2001). Keynote Address: 'Self Help' in natural resource management: the way forward for regional Australia?. 2001 Western Australian State Landcare Conference, Mandurah, WA, Australia, 11-14 September 2001.

Keynote Address: 'Self Help' in natural resource management: the way forward for regional Australia?

2001

Book

Globalization and Sport: Playing the World

Miller, T., Lawrence, G. A., McKay, J. and Rowe, D. (2001). Globalization and Sport: Playing the World. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications.

Globalization and Sport: Playing the World

2001

Book Chapter

Globalization and Culture

Miller, Toby and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2001). Globalization and Culture. A Companion to Cultural Studies. (pp. 490-509) edited by Toby Miller. Malden, MA, United States: Blackwell Publishing . doi: 10.1002/9780470998809.ch28

Globalization and Culture

2001

Book Chapter

Gene-technology, Agri-food Industries and Consumers

Lawrence, G., Norton, J. and Vanclay, F. (2001). Gene-technology, Agri-food Industries and Consumers. Altered Genes II: The Future?. (pp. 143-159) edited by Hindmarsh, R and Lawrence, G. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Scribe.

Gene-technology, Agri-food Industries and Consumers

2001

Conference Publication

Who buys organics, who doesn't, and why? Insights from a national survey of Australian consumers

Lyons, K., Mummery, K., Lockie, S. and Lawrence, G. (2001). Who buys organics, who doesn't, and why? Insights from a national survey of Australian consumers. Inaugural National Organic Conference 'The Organic Challenge - Unity Through Diversity', Sydney, Australia, 27-28 August 2001.

Who buys organics, who doesn't, and why? Insights from a national survey of Australian consumers

2001

Journal Article

Consuming ‘Green’: the symbolic construction of organic foods

Lyons, Kristen, Lockie, Stewart and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2001). Consuming ‘Green’: the symbolic construction of organic foods. Rural Society, 11 (3), 197-210. doi: 10.5172/rsj.11.3.197

Consuming ‘Green’: the symbolic construction of organic foods

2001

Book Chapter

Globalising Agriculture: Structures of Constraint for Australian Farming

Lawrence, G. and McMichael, P. (2001). Globalising Agriculture: Structures of Constraint for Australian Farming. Rurality Bites: The Social and Environmental Transformation of Rural Australia. (pp. 89-102) edited by Lockie, S. and Bourke, L.. Sydney, NSW Australia: Pluto Press.

Globalising Agriculture: Structures of Constraint for Australian Farming

2001

Book Chapter

Gender equality, hegemonic masculinity and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport

McKay, J., Lawrence, G., Miller, T. and Rowe, D. (2001). Gender equality, hegemonic masculinity and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport. Culture in Australia. (pp. 233-251) edited by T. Bennett and D. Carter. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Gender equality, hegemonic masculinity and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport

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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