Overview
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
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
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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?
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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.
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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.
Works
Search Professor Geoffrey Lawrence’s works on UQ eSpace
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
2000
Book Chapter
The Myths of Modern Agriculture: Australian Rural Production in the 21st Century
Lawrence, G. and Gray, I. (2000). The Myths of Modern Agriculture: Australian Rural Production in the 21st Century. Land of Discontent: the Dynamics of Change in Rural and Regional Australia. (pp. 33-51) edited by Pritchard, B. and McManus, P.. Sydney, NSW Australia: University of NSW Press.
2000
Conference Publication
Opening address
Lawrence, G. (2000). Opening address. Annual Conference of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia, 11-12 October 2000.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Lawrence is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Financialization and the restructuring of agriculture in Tanzania: Global finance and the takeover of farmland
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Agri-food transformations in Northern Australia: The work of local actors in mediating financial investments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation in Southwest Bangladesh: Vulnerability and Gender Inequality
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan
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2017
Master Philosophy
Cultivating climate change resilience in agri-food systems: Responses to natural disasters and emerging climate risks in Queensland's fresh produce supply chains
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Rice, politics and power: the political economy of food insecurity in East Asia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Melissa Curley
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The production of audit assurance: Unintended consequences of retailer governance in the Australian food system
Principal Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Governance in Rural Regions: A critical-interpretive perspective on policy implementation in Australia
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Contesting 'ethicality': Ethical trade, gender and sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers in Kenya
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Regional whole-of-government in Central Queensland: a sociocultural interpretation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Lakeside living - realising dreams in a master planned community
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Transformation of the Australian Beef Industry: Integrating Political Economy and Sociocultural Approaches to Agri-Food Restructuring
Principal Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
REGIONAL PLANNING AS GOOD GOVERNANCE: A CENTRAL QUEENSLAND CASE STUDY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE CATTLE GRAZING WITHIN A CULTURE OF PRODUCTIVISM? A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF BROADSCALE BEEF PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Cultural Reproduction, Loss and Limitations of Indigenous Traditions of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Martin, Dr Kim de Rijke
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2018
Master Philosophy
What is food in the food regime?: Remaking food and markets in a time of crisis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Resonance of the land grabbing frame in Mali, West Africa: A social movements and political ecology perspective
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristen Lyons
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
It's for love not money: Queensland graziers' perceptions of sustainable development
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Growing old in Springfield Lakes: the possibility of community in a new suburb
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lynda Cheshire
Media
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