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)

281 - 300 of 533 works

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

2000

Conference Publication

Reflexivity and Neoliberalism in Regional Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2000). Reflexivity and Neoliberalism in Regional Australia. Sights/Sites TASA 2000 Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 6-8 December 2000. Parkville, VIC, Australia: The Australian Sociological Association.

Reflexivity and Neoliberalism in Regional Australia

2000

Conference Publication

The Fitzroy Basin: a showcase for transdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem health

Windle, J. and Lawrence, G. (2000). The Fitzroy Basin: a showcase for transdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem health. International Symposium on Ecosystem Health, Brisbane, Australia, 12-14 July 2000.

The Fitzroy Basin: a showcase for transdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem health

2000

Journal Article

Contingent or structural crisis in British agriculture?

Drummond, I, Campbell, H, Lawrence, G and Symes, D (2000). Contingent or structural crisis in British agriculture?. Sociologia Ruralis, 40 (1), 111-+. doi: 10.1111/1467-9523.00134

Contingent or structural crisis in British agriculture?

2000

Conference Publication

Genetic engineering - consumer concerns

Norton, J. and Lawrence, G. (2000). Genetic engineering - consumer concerns. Regional Biotechnology Conference, Emerald, QLD, Australia, 6 September 2000.

Genetic engineering - consumer concerns

2000

Conference Publication

A preliminary analysis of beef as a commodity in Central Queensland

Reis, J., Lawrence, G. and Lockie, S. (2000). A preliminary analysis of beef as a commodity in Central Queensland. VIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Tumbarumba, NSW, Australia, 1-2 December 2000.

A preliminary analysis of beef as a commodity in Central Queensland

2000

Conference Publication

Rural Resentment, Participant Essay Series

Lawrence, G. (2000). Rural Resentment, Participant Essay Series. Symposium on Australian Values - Rural Policies, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 30 July - 5 August 2000.

Rural Resentment, Participant Essay Series

2000

Conference Publication

Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal

Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (2000). Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal. VIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Tumbarumba, NSW, Australia, 1-2 December 2000.

Neoliberalism, individualism and prospects for regional renewal

2000

Journal Article

Welfare bushed: Social care in rural Australia

Lawrence, G (2000). Welfare bushed: Social care in rural Australia. Rural Sociology, 65 (4), 673-675.

Welfare bushed: Social care in rural Australia

2000

Conference Publication

Promoting community-university partnerships for sustainable regional development

Lawrence, G. (2000). Promoting community-university partnerships for sustainable regional development. Regional Cooperation and Development Forum, Australian Local Government Association, Canberra, Australia, 3 December 2000.

Promoting community-university partnerships for sustainable regional development

2000

Journal Article

Gender and drought: Experiences of Australian women in the drought of the 1990s

Stehlik, D, Lawrence, G and Gray, L (2000). Gender and drought: Experiences of Australian women in the drought of the 1990s. Disasters, 24 (1), 38-53. doi: 10.1111/1467-7717.00130

Gender and drought: Experiences of Australian women in the drought of the 1990s

2000

Book Chapter

Sport and Australian society

Hughson, J., Lawrence, G. W., McKay, J. and Rowe, D. (2000). Sport and Australian society. A Sociology of Australian Society. (pp. 275-300) Melbourne: MacMillan.

Sport and Australian society

2000

Book Chapter

Australian communities in a 'Greening' world

Lawrence, G. (2000). Australian communities in a 'Greening' world. A decade of Landcare: our achievements: report on proceedings. (pp. 34-51) Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Department of Natural Resources and mines.

Australian communities in a 'Greening' world

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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