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)

381 - 400 of 533 works

1996

Conference Publication

Rural restructuring: the impact of drought in Central Queensland

Lawrence, G., Gray, I. and Stehlik, D. (1996). Rural restructuring: the impact of drought in Central Queensland. IV Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Melbourne, Australia, 4-6 July 1996.

Rural restructuring: the impact of drought in Central Queensland

1996

Book

Globalisation and Agri-food Restructuring: Perspectives from the Australasian Region

David Burch, Roy E Rickson and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (1996). Globalisation and Agri-food Restructuring: Perspectives from the Australasian Region. London: Avebury.

Globalisation and Agri-food Restructuring: Perspectives from the Australasian Region

1996

Conference Publication

The Shifting Sands of Disadvantage - a Social Policy Analysis of Drought

Bulis, H., Stehlik, D., Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1996). The Shifting Sands of Disadvantage - a Social Policy Analysis of Drought. National Disaster Reduction Conference, Surfers Paradise, QLD Australia, 29 September-2 October 1996. Barton, ACT Australia: Institution of Engineers.

The Shifting Sands of Disadvantage - a Social Policy Analysis of Drought

1996

Book Chapter

The future of agriculture and rural society in Central Queensland

Lawrence, G. (1996). The future of agriculture and rural society in Central Queensland. Futures for Central Queensland. (pp. 53-58) edited by D. Cryle, G. Griffin and D. Stehlik. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.

The future of agriculture and rural society in Central Queensland

1996

Book Chapter

Not so sweet: rural restructuring and its community impact - the Mackay sugar district, Queensland

Passfield, R., Lawrence, G. and McAllister, J. (1996). Not so sweet: rural restructuring and its community impact - the Mackay sugar district, Queensland. Social change in rural Australia . (pp. 188-200) edited by Geoffrey Lawrence, Kristen Lyons and Salim Momtaz. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.

Not so sweet: rural restructuring and its community impact - the Mackay sugar district, Queensland

1996

Book Chapter

Rural Australia: insights and issues from contemporary political economy

Lawrence, G. (1996). Rural Australia: insights and issues from contemporary political economy. Social change in rural Australia. (pp. 332-349) edited by Lawrence, G, Lyons, K and Momtaz, S. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.

Rural Australia: insights and issues from contemporary political economy

1996

Conference Publication

Towards a social construction of drought: Australian farm families' experience of drought in the 1990s

Stehlik, D., Bulis, H., Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1996). Towards a social construction of drought: Australian farm families' experience of drought in the 1990s. Natural Disaster Reduction '96 Conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 September-2 October 1996.

Towards a social construction of drought: Australian farm families' experience of drought in the 1990s

1996

Conference Publication

Communities in crisis? Towards a concept of quality of life in Australian rural communities that have experienced the drought of the early 1990s

Gray, I., Stehlik, D., Lawrence, G. and Bulis, H. (1996). Communities in crisis? Towards a concept of quality of life in Australian rural communities that have experienced the drought of the early 1990s. World Congress on the Quality of Life, Prince George, Canada, 22-25 August 1996.

Communities in crisis? Towards a concept of quality of life in Australian rural communities that have experienced the drought of the early 1990s

1996

Journal Article

Beyond national sport: Sociology, history and postmodernity

Rowe, David and Lawrence, Geoffrey (1996). Beyond national sport: Sociology, history and postmodernity. Sporting Traditions, 12 (2), 3-16.

Beyond national sport: Sociology, history and postmodernity

1996

Journal Article

Australian farming after agriculture

Lawrence, G. and Vanclay, F. (1996). Australian farming after agriculture. Arena, 24.

Australian farming after agriculture

1996

Book Chapter

Contemporary Agri-food Restructuring: Australia and new Zealand

Lawrence, G. (1996). Contemporary Agri-food Restructuring: Australia and new Zealand. Globalisation and Agri-food Restructuring: Perspectives from the Australasia Region. (pp. 45-72) edited by Burch, D., Rickson, R. and Lawrence, G.. London, United Kingdom: Avebury.

Contemporary Agri-food Restructuring: Australia and new Zealand

1996

Book

Social Change in Rural Australia

Geoffrey Lawrence, Kristen Lyons and Salim Momtaz eds. (1996). Social Change in Rural Australia. Central Queensland University, Rockhampton: University of Queensland Press ; Central Queensland University Press.

Social Change in Rural Australia

1996

Conference Publication

Regional communities and rural policy: a Central Queensland case study

Stehlik, D., Bulis, H., Gray, I. and Lawrence, G. (1996). Regional communities and rural policy: a Central Queensland case study. 20th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association, Canberra, ACT Australia, 23-25 September 1996.

Regional communities and rural policy: a Central Queensland case study

1996

Book Chapter

Introduction

Lawrence, G., Lyons, K. and Momtaz, S. (1996). Introduction. Social change in rural Australia. (pp. 1-8) edited by Geoffrey Lawrence, Kristen Lyons and Salim Momtaz. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.

Introduction

1996

Book Chapter

Towards a social construction of drought: a preliminary analysis

Stehlik, D., Witcomb, A., Lawrence, G. and Gray, I. (1996). Towards a social construction of drought: a preliminary analysis. Social change in rural Australia. (pp. 263-275) edited by Geoffrey Lawrence, Kristen Lyons and Salim Momtaz. Rockhampton, QLD, Australia: Rural Social and Economic Research Centre.

Towards a social construction of drought: a preliminary analysis

1996

Conference Publication

Impacts of the drought on Australian rural communities: is it socially binding or socially divisive?

Gray, I., Lawrence, G., Stehlik, D. and Bulis, H. (1996). Impacts of the drought on Australian rural communities: is it socially binding or socially divisive?. 28th International Conference of the Community Development Society, 'Windows on the World', Melbourne, Australia, 22-24 July 1996.

Impacts of the drought on Australian rural communities: is it socially binding or socially divisive?

1995

Journal Article

Genetic-engineering - public approval or public concern

Norton, J. and Lawrence, G. (1995). Genetic-engineering - public approval or public concern. Search, 26 (6), 186-187.

Genetic-engineering - public approval or public concern

1995

Journal Article

Manipulating genes or public-opinion

Hindmarsh, R., Lawrence, G. and Norton, J. (1995). Manipulating genes or public-opinion. Search, 26 (4), 117-121.

Manipulating genes or public-opinion

1995

Journal Article

Sustaining rural communities

Lawrence, G. (1995). Sustaining rural communities. Progress, 3 (1).

Sustaining rural communities

1995

Journal Article

Farmers and scientists: views on agrobiotechnologies

Norton, J. and Lawrence, G. (1995). Farmers and scientists: views on agrobiotechnologies. Agricultural Science, 8 (5), 39-42.

Farmers and scientists: views on agrobiotechnologies

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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