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)

341 - 360 of 533 works

1998

Book

Sustainable futures: Towards a catchment management strategy for the Central Queensland region

John Grimes, G A Lawrence and Dani Stehlik eds. (1998). Sustainable futures: Towards a catchment management strategy for the Central Queensland region. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Central Queensland University.

Sustainable futures: Towards a catchment management strategy for the Central Queensland region

1998

Conference Publication

Gender and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport

McKay, J., Lawrence, G., Miller, T. and Rowe, D. (1998). Gender and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport. Institutions of Australian Culture Workshop, Canberra, ACT Australia, 12-14 July 1998.

Gender and the governmentalisation of Australian amateur sport

1998

Conference Publication

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

Lockie, S., Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (1998). 'Healthy for you: healthy for the environment': corporate capital, farming practice and the construction of 'green' foods. XIV World Congress of Sociology, Montreal, Canada, 26 July-1 August 1998.

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

1998

Book

Australasian food and farming in a globalised economy: recent developments and future prospects

David Burch, Geoffrey Lawrence, Roy Rickson and Jasper Goss eds. (1998). Australasian food and farming in a globalised economy: recent developments and future prospects. Melbourne, VIC., Australia: Department of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University.

Australasian food and farming in a globalised economy: recent developments and future prospects

1998

Book Chapter

The Institute for Sustainable Regional Development at Central Queensland University

Lawrence, G. (1998). The Institute for Sustainable Regional Development at Central Queensland University. Sustainable Futures: Towards a Catchment Management Strategy for the Central Queensland Region. (pp. 6-8) edited by Grimes, J., Lawrence, G. and Stehlik, D.. Rockhampton, QLD Australia: Institute for Sustainable Regional Development.

The Institute for Sustainable Regional Development at Central Queensland University

1998

Conference Publication

Who Controls our Future?

Lawrence, G. (1998). Who Controls our Future?. Ninth Australian Agronomy Conference, Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia, 20-23 July 1998. Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia: Australian Society of Agronomy.

Who Controls our Future?

1998

Conference Publication

Public acceptance of genetically-engineered foods

Norton, J., Lawrence, G. and Wood, G. (1998). Public acceptance of genetically-engineered foods. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, Australia, 1-5 December 1998.

Public acceptance of genetically-engineered foods

1998

Journal Article

Sustainability and regional development: the research agenda for Central Queensland

Lawrence, G. (1998). Sustainability and regional development: the research agenda for Central Queensland. Central Queensland Journal of Regional Development.

Sustainability and regional development: the research agenda for Central Queensland

1998

Book Chapter

Gene Biotechnology, the State and Australia's Agri-food industries

Lawrence, G. and Vanclay, F. (1998). Gene Biotechnology, the State and Australia's Agri-food industries. Altered Genes - Reconstructing Nature: The Debate. (pp. 147-159) edited by Hindmarsh, R., Lawrence, G. and Norton, J.. Sydney, NSW Australia: Allen and Unwin.

Gene Biotechnology, the State and Australia's Agri-food industries

1998

Conference Publication

The agri-food research network, critical issues in transitional agri-food systems: the millennium and beyond

Lawrence, G. and McMichael, P. (1998). The agri-food research network, critical issues in transitional agri-food systems: the millennium and beyond. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, Australia, 1-5 December 1998.

The agri-food research network, critical issues in transitional agri-food systems: the millennium and beyond

1998

Book

Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives

David Rowe and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (1998). Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Hodder Headline.

Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives

1998

Journal Article

The state of regional sociology in Australia

Lawrence, G. (1998). The state of regional sociology in Australia. Nexus.

The state of regional sociology in Australia

1998

Book Chapter

Bio-utopia: the way forward?

Hindmarsh, R., Lawrence, G. and Norton, J. (1998). Bio-utopia: the way forward?. Altered Genes - Reconstructing Nature: The Debate. (pp. 3-23) edited by Hindmarsh, R., Lawrence, G. and Norton, J.. St Leonards, NSW Australia: Allen and Unwin.

Bio-utopia: the way forward?

1998

Book Chapter

Framing a critical sports sociology in the age of globalisation

Rowe, David and Lawrence, Geoffrey (1998). Framing a critical sports sociology in the age of globalisation. Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives. (pp. 159-169) Sydney, NSW, Australia: Hodder Headline.

Framing a critical sports sociology in the age of globalisation

1998

Book

Altered Genes: Reconstructing Nature - The Debate

R. Hindmarsh, G. Lawrence and J. Norton eds. (1998). Altered Genes: Reconstructing Nature - The Debate. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Allen and Unwin.

Altered Genes: Reconstructing Nature - The Debate

1998

Book Chapter

Agricultural Restructuring under conditions of drought in Central Queensland

Gray, I., Lawrence, G., Stehlik, D. and Bulis, H. (1998). Agricultural Restructuring under conditions of drought in Central Queensland. Australasian Food and Farming in a Globalised Economy: Recent Developments and Future Prospects. (pp. 3-14) Melbourne, VIC Australia: Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Monash University.

Agricultural Restructuring under conditions of drought in Central Queensland

1998

Book Chapter

Introduction

Rowe, David and Lawrence, Geoffrey (1998). Introduction. Tourism, leisure, sport: critical perspectives. (pp. 1-9) Sydney, NSW, Australia: Hodder Headline.

Introduction

1997

Journal Article

Review & Booknote: Making Sense of Sport

Lawrence, Geoffrey (1997). Review & Booknote: Making Sense of Sport. Media International Australia, 83 (1), 137-137. doi: 10.1177/1329878x9708300124

Review & Booknote: Making Sense of Sport

1997

Book Chapter

A Critical Assessment of Landcare in a Region of Central Queensland

Lawrence, G. and Morrisey, P. (1997). A Critical Assessment of Landcare in a Region of Central Queensland. Critical Landcare. (pp. 217-226) edited by Lockie, S. and Vanclay, F.. Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia: Centre for Rural Social Research.

A Critical Assessment of Landcare in a Region of Central Queensland

1997

Conference Publication

Limits to the Australian Sugar Industry: Social Factors

Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1997). Limits to the Australian Sugar Industry: Social Factors. Sugar 2000 Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 20–23 August 1996. London, United Kingdom: CAB International.

Limits to the Australian Sugar Industry: Social Factors

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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