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)

161 - 180 of 533 works

2007

Book

Supermarkets and Agri-food supply chains: Transformations in the production and consumption of foods

David Burch and Geoffrey Lawrence eds. (2007). Supermarkets and Agri-food supply chains: Transformations in the production and consumption of foods. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

Supermarkets and Agri-food supply chains: Transformations in the production and consumption of foods

2006

Conference Publication

Australia's Third Food Regime? Global versus National Trends

Lawrence, G. and Smith, K. (2006). Australia's Third Food Regime? Global versus National Trends. XIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Dunedin, New Zealand, 27-30 November 2006.

Australia's Third Food Regime? Global versus National Trends

2006

Conference Publication

Perceptions of Food Safety within the Australian Community

Grice, J. and Lawrence, G. (2006). Perceptions of Food Safety within the Australian Community. XIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Dunedin, New Zealand, 27-30 November 2006.

Perceptions of Food Safety within the Australian Community

2006

Conference Publication

Clean and Green? Regulating the Australian Organics Industry

Neal, S., Grice, J. and Lawrence, G. (2006). Clean and Green? Regulating the Australian Organics Industry. XIII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Dunedin, New Zealand, 27-30 November 2006.

Clean and Green? Regulating the Australian Organics Industry

2006

Conference Publication

Food Safety Regulation in Australia: an Agenda for Agri-food Research

Lawrence, G., Burch, D. and Smith, K. (2006). Food Safety Regulation in Australia: an Agenda for Agri-food Research. XII Conference of the Australasian Agri-food Research Network, Dunedin, New Zealand, 27-30 November 2006.

Food Safety Regulation in Australia: an Agenda for Agri-food Research

2006

Conference Publication

Regional Governance Arrangements for Natural Resource Management in Australia: Emerging Tensions in the Civil/State Nexus

Wallington, T. and Lawrence, G. (2006). Regional Governance Arrangements for Natural Resource Management in Australia: Emerging Tensions in the Civil/State Nexus. XVI World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006.

Regional Governance Arrangements for Natural Resource Management in Australia: Emerging Tensions in the Civil/State Nexus

2006

Book Chapter

What do we mean by green? Consumers, agriculture and the food industry

Burch, D., Lyons, K. and Lawrence, G. (2006). What do we mean by green? Consumers, agriculture and the food industry. Rikka rokassa vai sattumia sopassa? Johdatus yhteiskuntatieteelliseen maatalous-ja elintarviketutkimukseen. (pp. 69-87) Helsinki, Finland: University of Joensuu, Karelian Institute.

What do we mean by green? Consumers, agriculture and the food industry

2006

Conference Publication

Watchdogs and ombudsmen: the pressures for re-regulation of agri-food supply chains in Australia and the UK

Lawrence, G. and Burch, D. (2006). Watchdogs and ombudsmen: the pressures for re-regulation of agri-food supply chains in Australia and the UK. XVI World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006.

Watchdogs and ombudsmen: the pressures for re-regulation of agri-food supply chains in Australia and the UK

2006

Book Chapter

Reconfiguring rural resource governance: The legacy of neoliberalism in Australia

Lockie, Stewart, Lawrence, Geoffrey and Cheshire, Lynda (2006). Reconfiguring rural resource governance: The legacy of neoliberalism in Australia. Handbook of Rural Studies. (pp. 29-43) edited by P. Cloke, T. Marsden and P. Mooney. London: Sage. doi: 10.4135/9781848608016.n3

Reconfiguring rural resource governance: The legacy of neoliberalism in Australia

2006

Book Chapter

Mita 'Vihertyminen' Tarkoittaa? Kuluttajat, Maatalous ja Elintarviketeollisuus

Lawrence, G (2006). Mita 'Vihertyminen' Tarkoittaa? Kuluttajat, Maatalous ja Elintarviketeollisuus. Ruokakysymys: Nakokulmia Yhteiskuntatieteelliseen Elintarviketutkimukseen. (pp. 69-87) edited by T. Mononen and T. Silvasti. Helsinki, Finland: Gaudeamus.

Mita 'Vihertyminen' Tarkoittaa? Kuluttajat, Maatalous ja Elintarviketeollisuus

2006

Book Chapter

Regions

Lawrence, G A and Cheshire, L A (2006). Regions. Sociology: Place, Time and Division. (pp. 20-25) edited by P. Beilharz and T. Hogan. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.

Regions

2006

Book Chapter

Promovarea dezvoltarii durabile: Problematica guvernarii

Grice, Janet and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2006). Promovarea dezvoltarii durabile: Problematica guvernarii. Catalyse: Cunoastere, participare, si dezvoltare in spatiu comunitar. (pp. 15-45) edited by Mihai Pascaru. Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Editura Argonaut.

Promovarea dezvoltarii durabile: Problematica guvernarii

2006

Journal Article

Misreading mindsets: Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australian scientists

Grice, Janet and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2006). Misreading mindsets: Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australian scientists. Tailoring Biotechnologies, 2 (3), 87-103.

Misreading mindsets: Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australian scientists

2006

Conference Publication

Misreading mindsets? Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australia scientists

Grice, J. and Lawrence, G. (2006). Misreading mindsets? Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australia scientists. XVI World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006.

Misreading mindsets? Paradigms of genetic engineering among Australia scientists

2006

Conference Publication

Conventionalisation, radicalisation or both? The structural and ideological transformation of organic agriculture

Lockie, S., Lyons, K., Lawrence, G. and Halpin, D. (2006). Conventionalisation, radicalisation or both? The structural and ideological transformation of organic agriculture. XVI World Congress of Sociology, Durban, South Africa, 23-29 July 2006.

Conventionalisation, radicalisation or both? The structural and ideological transformation of organic agriculture

2006

Journal Article

Regional renaissance? New forms of governance in nonmetropolitan Australia

Everingham, Jo-Anne, Cheshire, Lynda and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2006). Regional renaissance? New forms of governance in nonmetropolitan Australia. Environment And Planning C-government And Policy, 24 (1), 139-155. doi: 10.1068/c47m

Regional renaissance? New forms of governance in nonmetropolitan Australia

2006

Book Chapter

Audit Cultures and the Antipodes: The Implications of EurepGAP for New Zealand and Australian Agri-food Industries

Campbell, Hugh, Lawrence, Geofffrey and Smith, Kiah (2006). Audit Cultures and the Antipodes: The Implications of EurepGAP for New Zealand and Australian Agri-food Industries. Between the Local and the Global: confronting complexity in the contemporary Agri-food sector. (pp. 69-94) edited by T. Marsden and J. Murdoch. Oxford, England: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S1057-1922(06)12004-1

Audit Cultures and the Antipodes: The Implications of EurepGAP for New Zealand and Australian Agri-food Industries

2006

Conference Publication

Creating Community in a New Estate: the Governmentality of Master Planning

Cheshire, L., Rosenblatt, T. and Lawrence, G. (2006). Creating Community in a New Estate: the Governmentality of Master Planning. The Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association: Community, Place, Change, University of Tasmania (UTAS) Sandy Bay campus, 15-18 December. Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne: The Australian Sociological Association.

Creating Community in a New Estate: the Governmentality of Master Planning

2006

Edited Outputs

Rural Society

Rural Society. (2006). 16 (3)

Rural Society

2006

Book

Going organic: Mobilizing networks for environmentally responsible food production

Lockie, Stewart, Lyons, Kristen and Lawrence, Geoffrey (2006). Going organic: Mobilizing networks for environmentally responsible food production. 1 ed. Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: CAB International Publishing.

Going organic: Mobilizing networks for environmentally responsible food production

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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