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)

321 - 340 of 533 works

1999

Conference Publication

Regional Extension Report: Changing Practices, Changing Landscapes

Taylor, B., Lockie, S., Dale, A. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Regional Extension Report: Changing Practices, Changing Landscapes. Central Queensland extension forum, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1999. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Department of Primary Industries.

Regional Extension Report: Changing Practices, Changing Landscapes

1999

Journal Article

The global restructuring of food and agriculture: Contingencies and parallels in Australia and New Zealand

Burch, D, Goss, J, Lawrence, G and Rickson, RE (1999). The global restructuring of food and agriculture: Contingencies and parallels in Australia and New Zealand. Rural Sociology, 64 (2), 179-185.

The global restructuring of food and agriculture: Contingencies and parallels in Australia and New Zealand

1999

Book Chapter

Foreword, in Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures

Burch, D., Goss, J. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Foreword, in Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures. Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures: Transformations in Australasian Economies and Spaces. (pp. xvii-xix) edited by Burch, D., Goss, J. and Lawrence, G.. Aldershot, United Kingdom: Ashgate.

Foreword, in Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures

1999

Conference Publication

Institutionalisation and resistance: organic agriculture in Australia and New Zealand

Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Institutionalisation and resistance: organic agriculture in Australia and New Zealand. XVIII Congress of the European Society for Rural Sociology, Lund, Sweden, 24-28 August 1999.

Institutionalisation and resistance: organic agriculture in Australia and New Zealand

1999

Book Chapter

An Action Learning approach to grower-focussed change: research among cotton producers in Queensland

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Meyers, Melissa, Lockie, Stewart and Clark, Richard (1999). An Action Learning approach to grower-focussed change: research among cotton producers in Queensland. Restructuring Global and Regional Agricultures. (pp. 289-305) Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429448355-18

An Action Learning approach to grower-focussed change: research among cotton producers in Queensland

1999

Conference Publication

Greening, Agriculture and Change: Incorporation and Resistance

Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Greening, Agriculture and Change: Incorporation and Resistance. Farming for the future : organic produce for the 21st century, Mackay, QLD Australia, 22-23 September 1999. Mackay, QLD Australia: Central Queensland University.

Greening, Agriculture and Change: Incorporation and Resistance

1999

Journal Article

Europe's growing interest in organic food

Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Europe's growing interest in organic food. Nexus, 11 (3).

Europe's growing interest in organic food

1999

Book Chapter

Changing Spaces: the Effects of Macro-social Forces on Rural Australia

Gray, I., Lawrence, G. and Stehlik, D. (1999). Changing Spaces: the Effects of Macro-social Forces on Rural Australia. Local Responses to Global Integration: Towards a New Era Of Rural Restructuring. (pp. 63-87) edited by Kasimas, B and Papadopoulos, A. London, United Kingdom: Ashgate.

Changing Spaces: the Effects of Macro-social Forces on Rural Australia

1999

Journal Article

Agri-food restructuring: a synthesis of recent Australian research

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1999). Agri-food restructuring: a synthesis of recent Australian research. Rural Sociology, 64 (2), 186-202. doi: 10.1111/j.1549-0831.1999.tb00013.x

Agri-food restructuring: a synthesis of recent Australian research

1999

Journal Article

In search of sustainable regional development: Exploring the regional context of environmental issues

Lawrence, G. (1999). In search of sustainable regional development: Exploring the regional context of environmental issues. Univation, 14 (1), 9-10.

In search of sustainable regional development: Exploring the regional context of environmental issues

1999

Journal Article

One disaster too many? Australian consumer doubts about the promises of genetic engineering

Norton, J., Wood, G. and Lawrence, G. (1999). One disaster too many? Australian consumer doubts about the promises of genetic engineering. Journal of Australian Studies.

One disaster too many? Australian consumer doubts about the promises of genetic engineering

1999

Journal Article

Genetically Modified Foods: Consumer Concerns - or Simply Scaremongering?

Norton, J. and Lawrence, G. (1999). Genetically Modified Foods: Consumer Concerns - or Simply Scaremongering?. Australasian Science.

Genetically Modified Foods: Consumer Concerns - or Simply Scaremongering?

1999

Journal Article

Modifying the sign: sport and globalization

Miller, Toby, Lawrence, Geoffrey, McKay, Jim and Rowe, David (1999). Modifying the sign: sport and globalization. Social Text, 60, 15-33.

Modifying the sign: sport and globalization

1999

Journal Article

Healthy for you, healthy for the environment: corporate capital, farming practice and the construction of 'Green' foods

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Lyons, Kristen and Lockie, Stewart (1999). Healthy for you, healthy for the environment: corporate capital, farming practice and the construction of 'Green' foods. Rural Society, 9 (3), 543-554. doi: 10.5172/rsj.9.3.543

Healthy for you, healthy for the environment: corporate capital, farming practice and the construction of 'Green' foods

1998

Journal Article

Consumer misgivings over genetically engineered foods

Norton, Janet, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Wood, Graham (1998). Consumer misgivings over genetically engineered foods. Australasian Science, 19 (9), 23-26.

Consumer misgivings over genetically engineered foods

1998

Conference Publication

What do we mean by Green? Consumers, Agriculture and the Food Industry

Burch, D., Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (1998). What do we mean by Green? Consumers, Agriculture and the Food Industry. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 1-5 December 1998.

What do we mean by Green? Consumers, Agriculture and the Food Industry

1998

Conference Publication

Agri-genetics, Food and Sustainability: What the Australian Public Thinks

Norton, J., Lawrence, G. and Wood, G. (1998). Agri-genetics, Food and Sustainability: What the Australian Public Thinks. VI Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Rockhampton, QLD Australia, 27-29 August 1998.

Agri-genetics, Food and Sustainability: What the Australian Public Thinks

1998

Journal Article

The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods - Methodology

Norton, J., Lawrence, G. and Wood, G. (1998). The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods - Methodology. Australasian Biotechnology, 8 (4), 241-242.

The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods - Methodology

1998

Journal Article

The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods

Norton, J., Lawrence, Geoffrey and Wood, Graham (1998). The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods. Australasian Biotechnology, 8 (3), 172-181.

The Australian public's perception of genetically-engineered foods

1998

Journal Article

Community, communion, and drought in rural Australia

Gray, Ian, Stehlik, Daniela, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Bulis, Helen (1998). Community, communion, and drought in rural Australia. Community Development Society. Journal, 29 (1), 23-37. doi: 10.1080/15575339809489771

Community, communion, and drought in rural Australia

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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