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 (160) Book Chapter (110) Conference Publication (218) Book (29) Other Outputs (12) Edited Outputs (4)

81 - 100 of 533 works

2012

Journal Article

A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol, Loong, Mark and Burch, David (2012). A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia. Rural Society, 21 (3), 250-263. doi: 10.5172/rsj.2012.21.3.250

A toothless chihuahua? The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, neoliberalism and supermarket power in Australia

2012

Conference Publication

Reimagining the State in World Agriculture: Observations and Questions

Hawkes, S., Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (2012). Reimagining the State in World Agriculture: Observations and Questions. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 November 2012.

Reimagining the State in World Agriculture: Observations and Questions

2012

Book

Think sociology

Carl, John D., Baker, Sarah, Robards, Brady, Scott, John, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Hillman, Wendy (2012). Think sociology. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Australia.

Think sociology

2012

Other Outputs

World hunger day

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). World hunger day. Routledge.

World hunger day

2012

Conference Publication

Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for local government in Australia

Everingham, J., Cheshire, L. and Lawrence, G. (2012). Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for local government in Australia. XIII World Congress of Rural Sociology, Lisbon, Portugal, 29 July - 4 August 2012.

Governing the impacts of mining and the impacts of mining governance: challenges for local government in Australia

2012

Journal Article

Address to the General Assembly of IRSA from the in-coming President

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Address to the General Assembly of IRSA from the in-coming President. Agriculture and Food, 6 (2), 4-7.

Address to the General Assembly of IRSA from the in-coming President

2012

Conference Publication

Situating financialisation with changing land control: new forms of farm ownership in NSW

Larder, N., Sippel, S. and Lawrence, G. (2012). Situating financialisation with changing land control: new forms of farm ownership in NSW. Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association, Brisbane, Australia, 26-29 November 2012.

Situating financialisation with changing land control: new forms of farm ownership in NSW

2012

Book Chapter

Globalisation: the economy and society

Carl, John D. and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Globalisation: the economy and society. Think sociology. (pp. 186-206) edited by John D. Carl, Sarah Baker, Brady Robards, John Scott, Wendy Hillman and Geoffrey Lawrence. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Australia.

Globalisation: the economy and society

2012

Conference Publication

Financialisation and farming: the case of Hancock

Sippel, S., Lawrence, G. and Burch, D. (2012). Financialisation and farming: the case of Hancock. XIII World Congress of Rural Sociology, Lisbon, Portugal, 29 July - 4 August 2012.

Financialisation and farming: the case of Hancock

2012

Book Chapter

Regions

Lawrence, Geoffrey and Cheshire, Lynda (2012). Regions. Sociology: antipodean perspectives. (pp. 31-37) edited by Peter Beiharz and Trevor Hogan. South Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Oxford University Press.

Regions

2012

Book Chapter

Climate change and the resilience of commodity food production in Australia

Lawrence, Geoffrey, Richards, Carol, Gray, Ian and Hansar, Naomi (2012). Climate change and the resilience of commodity food production in Australia. Food systems failure: The global food crisis and the future of agriculture. (pp. 131-146) edited by Christopher Rosin, Paul Stock and Hugh Campbell. London, U.K.: Earthscan. doi: 10.4324/9781849776820

Climate change and the resilience of commodity food production in Australia

2012

Journal Article

The question of food security

Lawrence, Geoffrey and McMichael, Philip (2012). The question of food security. International Journal of Sociology of Agriculture and Food, 19 (2), 135-142.

The question of food security

2012

Journal Article

Food security

Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Food security. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 66 (2), 281-282. doi: 10.1080/10357718.2012.658620

Food security

2012

Book Chapter

Environmental sustainability and social movements: how do societies connect with nature?

Carl, John D. and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2012). Environmental sustainability and social movements: how do societies connect with nature?. Think sociology. (pp. 244-267) edited by John D. Carl, Sarah Baker, Brady Robards, John Scott, Wendy Hillman and Geoffrey Lawrence. Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia: Pearson Australia.

Environmental sustainability and social movements: how do societies connect with nature?

2012

Edited Outputs

International Journal fo Sociology of Agriculture and Food

International Journal fo Sociology of Agriculture and Food. (2012). 19 (2)

International Journal fo Sociology of Agriculture and Food

2012

Book Chapter

Queensland towns

Lawrence, Geoffrey and Cheshire, Lynda (2012). Queensland towns. Sociology: Antipodean perspectives. (pp. 133-143) edited by Peter Beiharz and Trevor Hogan. South Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Oxford University Press.

Queensland towns

2011

Conference Publication

Financialisation: Is this a Useful Concept in Understanding Contemporary Developments in the Agri-food System?

Burch, D., Lawrence, G., Lyons, K. and Richards, C. (2011). Financialisation: Is this a Useful Concept in Understanding Contemporary Developments in the Agri-food System?. XVIII Australasian Agri-food Research Network Conference, Canberra, ACT Australia, 6-9 December 2011.

Financialisation: Is this a Useful Concept in Understanding Contemporary Developments in the Agri-food System?

2011

Conference Publication

Is Australia Food Secure?

Lawrence, G., Richards, C., Burch, D. and Lyons, K. (2011). Is Australia Food Secure?. XVIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Network, Canberra, ACT Australia, 6-9 December 2011.

Is Australia Food Secure?

2011

Other Outputs

Farms, mines and foreign ownership. A case for regulation in the national interest?

Santhanam-Marting, Michael and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2011, 07 01). Farms, mines and foreign ownership. A case for regulation in the national interest?

Farms, mines and foreign ownership. A case for regulation in the national interest?

2011

Journal Article

Supermarkets and agro-industrial foods: The strategic remanufacturing of consumer trust

Richards, Carol, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Burch, David (2011). Supermarkets and agro-industrial foods: The strategic remanufacturing of consumer trust. Food, Culture & Society, 14 (1), 29-47. doi: 10.2752/175174411X12810842291146

Supermarkets and agro-industrial foods: The strategic remanufacturing of consumer trust

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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