Overview
Background
Dr Renee Zahnow is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Science at the University of Queensland. Her research focuses on place-based patterns of prosocial and deviate activites; she is particularly interested in understanding the link between the regularities of daily human mobility, social and behavioural norms and the propensity for crime and deviance. She has published in various journals, including Criminology, Urban Studies, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Environment and Behavior and Crime and Delinquency.
Dr Zahnow has worked across a range of research projects including program evaluations and random-control trials. She has spatial and longitudinal modelling expertise and experience in working with police, ambulance and hospital data. She has established working ties with industry partners and international colleagues. Renee has expert knowledge in areas of environmental and urban criminology, social norms and collective social processes, youth and deviance and substance use.
Availability
- Associate Professor Renee Zahnow is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctoral Diploma, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Urban Spaces and Sociability
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Routine daily mobility
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Longitudinal and big data analysis
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Spatial Data analysis
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Environmental Criminology
Works
Search Professor Renee Zahnow’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Where Imprisonment, Housing Instability and Wellbeing Intersect: Evidence From Over Two Decades of Data
Ambrey, Christopher L. and Zahnow, Renee (2026). Where Imprisonment, Housing Instability and Wellbeing Intersect: Evidence From Over Two Decades of Data. Australian Journal of Social Issues ajs4.70142. doi: 10.1002/ajs4.70142
2026
Book Chapter
The social element of place attachment
Zahnow, Renee (2026). The social element of place attachment. Handbook on Sense of Place. (pp. 83-96) Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035337217.00014
2026
Other Outputs
Evaluation of the resilient homes fund
Jarzabkowski, Paula, Riordan, Tyler, Gallagher, Rosie, Pham, Wendy, Avanzi, Benjamin, Mason, Matthew, Rambaldi, Alicia, Zahnow, Renee, Johnson, Laurel, Wyeth, Stephanie, Deng, Ruyue, Taylor, Neil and Xie, Yagebu (2026). Evaluation of the resilient homes fund. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Natural Hazards Research Australia.
2026
Journal Article
Parks and older people's sense of community: examining the role of urban parks in supporting sustainable development goal 3 in Brisbane, Australia
Hassankhani, Mahnoosh and Zahnow, Renee (2026). Parks and older people's sense of community: examining the role of urban parks in supporting sustainable development goal 3 in Brisbane, Australia. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 45 (2) e70160, e70160. doi: 10.1111/ajag.70160
2026
Journal Article
Stressful life events, masculinity and gambling participation: an age-stratified analysis of Australian men
Zahnow, Renee and Lin, Kai (2026). Stressful life events, masculinity and gambling participation: an age-stratified analysis of Australian men. Journal of Gambling Studies. doi: 10.1007/s10899-026-10506-2
2026
Journal Article
Physical and social disorder, and not tree cover, reduce perceived safety in urban green spaces
Berdejo-Espinola, Violeta, Fuller, Richard A. and Zahnow, Renee (2026). Physical and social disorder, and not tree cover, reduce perceived safety in urban green spaces. npj Urban Sustainability, 6 (1) 48, 1-9. doi: 10.1038/s42949-026-00337-w
2026
Journal Article
Urban nature equity must consider cultural nuances
Wong-Topp, Samantha M., Fuller, Richard A., Dean, Angela J., Bekessy, Sarah and Zahnow, Renee (2026). Urban nature equity must consider cultural nuances. npj Urban Sustainability, 6 (1) 40, 1-5. doi: 10.1038/s42949-026-00352-x
2026
Journal Article
The influence of parental education on child health: analysis of the mediating effect of neighbourhood quality
O'Flaherty, Martin, Liu, Yongbo and Zahnow, Renee (2026). The influence of parental education on child health: analysis of the mediating effect of neighbourhood quality. Journal of Adolescence, 98 (4) jad.70119, 1087-1096. doi: 10.1002/jad.70119
2026
Journal Article
Social pandemic? The effect of COVID-19 on familiar stranger encounters in a public transit network
Zahnow, Renee and Corcoran, Jonathan (2026). Social pandemic? The effect of COVID-19 on familiar stranger encounters in a public transit network. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 204 104793, 104793-204. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104793
2026
Journal Article
Active guardianship in urban public places: place attachment and social cohesion
Zahnow, Renee (2026). Active guardianship in urban public places: place attachment and social cohesion. Psychology, Crime and Law, 32 (2), 345-366. doi: 10.1080/1068316x.2024.2368568
2026
Book Chapter
Fear of crime at stations and station platforms
Zahnow, Renee and Corcoran, Jonathan (2026). Fear of crime at stations and station platforms. Elgar Encyclopedia of Transit Crime and Safety. (pp. 75-76) edited by Vania Ceccato and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris. Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035362066.00042
2026
Journal Article
The importance of public familiarity for sense of belonging in Brisbane neighborhoods
Zahnow, Renee and Corcoran, Jonathan (2026). The importance of public familiarity for sense of belonging in Brisbane neighborhoods. Journal of Urban Affairs, 48 (2), 429-443. doi: 10.1080/07352166.2024.2407355
2026
Book Chapter
Temporal factors affecting victimisation and fear in transit settings
Corcoran, Jonathan and Zahnow, Renee (2026). Temporal factors affecting victimisation and fear in transit settings. Elgar Encyclopedia of Transit Crime and Safety. (pp. 196-197) Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035362066.00098
2026
Book Chapter
Crime at stations and station platforms
Zahnow, Renee, Corcoran, Jonathan and Bartram, Erin (2026). Crime at stations and station platforms. Elgar Encyclopedia of Transit Crime and Safety. (pp. 75-76) Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781035362066.00041
2025
Book
A portable workbook for data analysis: R for the social sciences
Zahnow, Renee and Song, Jin (2025). A portable workbook for data analysis: R for the social sciences. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/8e93b4f
2025
Journal Article
Public open space, adverse live events and psychological distress in Melbourne, Australia
Ambrey, Christopher L. and Zahnow, Renee (2025). Public open space, adverse live events and psychological distress in Melbourne, Australia. Landscape and Urban Planning, 263 105443, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105443
2025
Journal Article
Understanding the impact of social connectedness on health and well-being among refugees in Australia
Song, Jingyeong, Corcoran, Jonathan and Zahnow, Renee (2025). Understanding the impact of social connectedness on health and well-being among refugees in Australia. Journal of Refugee Studies, 38 (4), 933-952. doi: 10.1093/jrs/feaf036
2025
Journal Article
Climate change inequalities: a systematic review of disparities in access to mitigation and adaptation measures
Zahnow, Renee, Rad Yousefnia, Ali, Hassankhani, Mahnoosh and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2025). Climate change inequalities: a systematic review of disparities in access to mitigation and adaptation measures. Environmental Science & Policy, 165 104021, 104021-165. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104021
2025
Journal Article
The resettlement journey: understanding the role of social connectedness on well-being and life satisfaction among (im)migrants and refugees: a systematic review
Song, Jingyeong, Corcoran, Jonathan and Zahnow, Renee (2025). The resettlement journey: understanding the role of social connectedness on well-being and life satisfaction among (im)migrants and refugees: a systematic review. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 12 (4), 2128-2144. doi: 10.1007/s40615-024-02036-7
2024
Journal Article
The heterogeneous effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on crime across the world
Trajtenberg, N., Fossati, S., Diaz, C., Nivette, A. E., Aguilar, R., Ahven, A., Andrade, L., Amram, S., Ariel, B., Arosemena Burbano, M. J., Astolfi, R., Baier, D., Bark, H. M., Beijers, J. E.H., Bergman, M., Borges, D., Breetzke, G., Cano, I., Concha Eastman, I. A., Curtis-Ham, S., Davenport, R., Droppelman, C., Fleitas, D., Gerell, M., Jang, K. H., Kääriäinen, J., Lappi-Seppälä, T., Lim, W. S., Loureiro Revilla, R. ... Eisner, M. P. (2024). The heterogeneous effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on crime across the world. Crime Science, 13 (1) 22, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s40163-024-00220-y
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Renee Zahnow is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Projects on urban sociology, spatial inequalities, crime and place.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Reconsidering social connectedness: A multidimensional lens on social connectedness and refugee health and well-being
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran, Dr Rennie Lee
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Doctor Philosophy
Cultural variation in connection to urban nature
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Angela Dean, Professor Richard Fuller
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Doctor Philosophy
Uncovering State Terrorism in Indonesia: CSOs' Vital Role in Deradicalizing, Disengaging and Rehabilitating Extremists
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Adrian Cherney
Completed supervision
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Ageing in Suburbia: The role of social infrastructure in creating age friendly cities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Walters
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Changes in Immigrant Threat Perceptions and Support for Restrictive Immigration and Refugee & Asylum Seekers Policies in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Suzanna Fay
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
"Disaster Strains" : An exploratory, comparative, thematic analysis, of the 2010-11 Brisbane floods and COVID-19 pandemic, through the theoretical lenses of Agnew's General Strain Theory.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jonah Rimer, Associate Professor Suzanna Fay
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Urban nature health effects moderated by stressful contexts
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Richard Fuller
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the Progression to Violence: Background Characteristics and Risk Factors for Radicalisation to Violent Extremism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Adrian Cherney
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Crime, Perceptions of Safety, and Public Transit Ridership: A Space-Time Approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
`Conservation' Criminology: Understanding and Preventing Illegal Fishing in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Lorraine Mazerolle
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Immigration-Crime Myth: Exploring the Impact of Immigration on Neighbourhood Violence
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
Media
Enquiries
Contact Associate Professor Renee Zahnow directly for media enquiries about:
- community
- crime
- delinquency
- mobility
- neighborhood
- population health
- resilience
- social ties
- youth
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