Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Kristen Lyons
Professor

Kristen Lyons

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52020

Overview

Background

Professor Kristen Lyons is a public intellectual with over twenty years experience in research, teaching and service that delivers national and international impacts on issues that sit at the intersection of sustainability and development, as well as the future of higher education. Trained as a sociologist, Kristen is comfortable working in transdisciplinary teams to deliver socially just outcomes, including for some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Kristen works regularly in Uganda, Solomon Islands and Australia, and her work is grounded in a rights-based approach. In practice, this means centring the rights and interests of local communities, including Indigenous peoples, in her approach to research design, collaboration, and impacts and outcomes. Kristen is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Oakland Institute.

Availability

Professor Kristen Lyons is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Griffith University
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Griffith University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Central Queensland University

Research interests

  • Climate Change and Human Rights

    Responses to climate change deliver significant impacts at the local level. I lead cross country research that examines the impacts of carbon trading initiatives - one response to climate change - for local communities.

  • Transdisciplinary and Indigenous Rights

    I am engaged in research that examines the social, legal and policy frameworks to support Australia to meet its Indigenous rights obligations, especially in the context of a climate changing world.

  • Transforming Universities for the Public Good

    Today’s university system is increasingly market driven, with institutional requirements that constrain options for public good research and learning. This system stands at odds with the primary and historical role of universities. Higher education movements – including free universities, progressive colleges and civic forums – offer important critical alternatives to this current system. I am engaged in research to analyse a selection of movements, delivering outcomes that will increase knowledge of how alliances and campaigns organise, what their change agenda entails, and how they are transforming universities for the public good.

Research impacts

My recognised role as public intellectual enhances my national and international academic, policy and industry impacts on issues related to the environment, development and human rights. Over the last five years I have led research teams to deliver socially just outcomes for some of the world's most vulnerable communities. For example, I have led research to identify human rights abuses that underpin international carbon offset projects in Uganda. The outcome of this has changed practices of one of the worlds largest plantation forestry and carbon offset companies, and shaped public debates related to global carbon trade projects. Collaborative research with Traditional Owners in Australia has also also delivered outcomes that have impacted public and policy understandings of Australia's indigenous rights obligations in the context of resource development.

To maximise research impact, I regularly work with funding bodies that support collaborative engagement with key partners, and build enduring relations between academic, industry and community groups.

In my role as advisor on a number of government advisory bodies, I have played a part in changing guidelines and policies related to emerging technologies. I was part of a team that provided recommendations to the Department of Industry Science and Resources to ensure Australia's compliance with international organic agriculture and food standards, with outcomes that ensure Australia maintains international market access.

I am committed to publishing broadly in non academic outlets, including in The Conversation (over 126,000 readers, and ranked #3 at UQ in 2018), ABC, New Matilda), and my research regularly features in international and national media.

Works

Search Professor Kristen Lyons’s works on UQ eSpace

173 works between 1995 and 2023

1 - 20 of 173 works

2023

Journal Article

A political ecology of farmers’ exposure to pesticides in Ghana

Boafo, James and Lyons, Kristen (2023). A political ecology of farmers’ exposure to pesticides in Ghana. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 9 (2) 2286728. doi: 10.1080/23311932.2023.2286728

A political ecology of farmers’ exposure to pesticides in Ghana

2023

Journal Article

When solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises ignore gender, they harm society and the planet

James, Robyn, Lyons, Kristen, McKay, Philippa, Konia, Ruth, Lionata, Hilda and Butt, Nathalie (2023). When solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises ignore gender, they harm society and the planet. Biological Conservation, 287 110308, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110308

When solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises ignore gender, they harm society and the planet

2023

Journal Article

Response to Schildermans’ Book Review

Thompsett, Fern, Lyons, Kristen and Hil, Richard (2023). Response to Schildermans’ Book Review. Studies in Philosophy and Education, 42 (6), 1-5. doi: 10.1007/s11217-023-09901-8

Response to Schildermans’ Book Review

2023

Journal Article

Babatana rainforest conservation project: a lightning rod for others

Lyons, Kristen and Walters, Peter (2023, 09 28). Babatana rainforest conservation project: a lightning rod for others NAKAU Blog 1-2.

Babatana rainforest conservation project: a lightning rod for others

2023

Journal Article

Why focusing on our strengths matters: reflections on leaving a volunteer role I actually liked

Lyons, Kristen (2023). Why focusing on our strengths matters: reflections on leaving a volunteer role I actually liked. Community Development Journal, 59 (1) bsad027, 8-11. doi: 10.1093/cdj/bsad027

Why focusing on our strengths matters: reflections on leaving a volunteer role I actually liked

2023

Other Outputs

Green colonialism 2.0 Tree plantations and carbon offsets in Africa

Devillers, Eve and Lyons, Kristen (2023). Green colonialism 2.0 Tree plantations and carbon offsets in Africa. Oakland, CA, United States: Oakland Institute.

Green colonialism 2.0 Tree plantations and carbon offsets in Africa

2023

Journal Article

Indigenous rights-led post-extractivist futures in Australia

Lyons, Kristen, Esposito, Anthony and Johnson, Murrawah (2023). Indigenous rights-led post-extractivist futures in Australia. CICADA Newsletter (9), 4-6.

Indigenous rights-led post-extractivist futures in Australia

2023

Other Outputs

Never mind the “Green Games” — let’s aim for a 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games that deliver on climate justice

Lyons, Kristen, Walker, Jim and Rashidi, Pedram (2023, 05 15). Never mind the “Green Games” — let’s aim for a 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games that deliver on climate justice ABC Religion and Ethics

Never mind the “Green Games” — let’s aim for a 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games that deliver on climate justice

2023

Journal Article

The missing voices of the urban poor in climate research and policy making

Walters, Peter and Lyons, Kristen (2023). The missing voices of the urban poor in climate research and policy making. Diálogos Socioambientais, 6 (16), 30-35.

The missing voices of the urban poor in climate research and policy making

2023

Journal Article

As vozes ausentes dos pobres urbanos na pesquisa climática e na elaboração de políticas

Walters, Peter and Lyons, Kristen (2023). As vozes ausentes dos pobres urbanos na pesquisa climática e na elaboração de políticas. Diálogos Socioambientais, 16 (6) 6, 30-37.

As vozes ausentes dos pobres urbanos na pesquisa climática e na elaboração de políticas

2023

Journal Article

Indigenous peoples’ demand rights-led responses to the climate crisis

Lyons, Kristen and Walters, Peter (2023). Indigenous peoples’ demand rights-led responses to the climate crisis. Dialogos Socioambientais, 6 (16), 24-29.

Indigenous peoples’ demand rights-led responses to the climate crisis

2023

Journal Article

Os Povos Indígenas e as respostas baseadas em defesa de direitos face à crise climática

Lyons, Kristen and Walters, Peter (2023). Os Povos Indígenas e as respostas baseadas em defesa de direitos face à crise climática. Diálogos Socioambientais, 6 (16) 5, 30-34.

Os Povos Indígenas e as respostas baseadas em defesa de direitos face à crise climática

2023

Journal Article

Gender bias and inequity holds women back in their conservation careers

James, Robyn, Fisher, Jonathan, Carlos-Grotjahn, Chelsea, Boylan, Marissa, Dembereldash, Baigalmaa, Demissie, Meaza, De Villegas, Crystal Diaz, Gibbs, Bridget, Konia, Ruth, Lyons, Kristen, Possingham, Hugh, Robinson, Cathy, Tang, Tiantian and Butt, Nathalie (2023). Gender bias and inequity holds women back in their conservation careers. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10 1056751, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1056751

Gender bias and inequity holds women back in their conservation careers

2023

Book Chapter

Democratizing global climate governance? The case of indigenous representation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Rashidi, Pedram and Lyons, Kristen (2023). Democratizing global climate governance? The case of indigenous representation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Economics and climate emergency. (pp. 284-299) edited by Barry Gills and Jamie Morgan. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003174707-21

Democratizing global climate governance? The case of indigenous representation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

2022

Journal Article

Post-graduate work integrated learning: using diversity to prepare graduates for a messy and contested world

Lyons, Kristen , Seini, Monica , Coogan West, Catherine , Rashidi, Pedram , Freeman, Camille , Ryall, Glenn , Chen, Susan and Vu, Ciarra (2022). Post-graduate work integrated learning: using diversity to prepare graduates for a messy and contested world. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 23 (4), 595-605.

Post-graduate work integrated learning: using diversity to prepare graduates for a messy and contested world

2022

Other Outputs

To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models

Thompsett, Fern, Lyons, Kristen and Hil, Richard (2022, 11 18). To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models Times Higher Education

To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models

2022

Other Outputs

To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models

Thompsett, Fern, Lyons, Kristen and Hil, Richard (2022, 11 17). To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models THE Campus

To save higher education, we must look beyond traditional university models

2022

Journal Article

For the common good: why we need ecological universities

Hil, Richard, Lyons, Kristen and Thompsett, Fern (2022). For the common good: why we need ecological universities. Times Higher Education.

For the common good: why we need ecological universities

2022

Other Outputs

Australia violated the rights of Torres Strait Islanders by failing to act on climate change, the UN says. Here's what that means.

Lyons, Kristen (2022, 09 26). Australia violated the rights of Torres Strait Islanders by failing to act on climate change, the UN says. Here's what that means. The Conversation

Australia violated the rights of Torres Strait Islanders by failing to act on climate change, the UN says. Here's what that means.

2022

Journal Article

Gender and conservation science: men continue to out‐publish women at the world's largest environmental conservation non‐profit organization

James, Robyn, Ariunbaatar, Javkhlan, Bresnahan, Meaghan, Carlos‐Grotjahn, Chelsea, Fisher, Jonathan R. B., Gibbs, Bridget, Hausheer, Justine E., Nakozoete, Cynthia, Nomura, Sarah‐Kate, Possingham, Hugh and Lyons, Kristen (2022). Gender and conservation science: men continue to out‐publish women at the world's largest environmental conservation non‐profit organization. Conservation Science and Practice, 4 (8) e12748. doi: 10.1111/csp2.12748

Gender and conservation science: men continue to out‐publish women at the world's largest environmental conservation non‐profit organization

Funding

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2023
    Centring Community-based planning and participation alongside low carbon transition: a global south-north comparative study
    UQ-FAPESP Strategic Research Fund SPRINT
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    ''We are the people from that land'': Beyond big coal by centering Indigenous peoples' rights in the transition to a sustainable low carbon future (GCI Flagships)
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Enhancing Economic Opportunities offered by Community and Smallholder Forestry in Solomon Islands (ACIAR Project Administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2012
    UQ Category 2 Travel Award - Kristen Lyons
    UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 2)
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Urban food security, urban resilience and climate change (administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    The politics of food security in a global age: Community impacts and responses to biofuel production in Ghana, West Africa
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Kristen Lyons is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Gender, Conservation and Natural Resource Management in Solomon Islands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Postapocalyptic environmental practices: the narratives and political possibilities of the Dark Mountain Project

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Heloise Weber

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Digital and Agricultural Innovation, and Alternative Agriculture Practices in Australian

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Political and Environmental Contributions of Agro-Forestry and Permaculture to Build Resilience to Climate Change

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Green extractivism, environmental justice and Indigenous Rights: The case of lithium mining in Chile

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Babidge

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Kristen Lyons directly for media enquiries about:

  • carbon markets and human rights
  • development and environment
  • East Africa
  • nanotechnology in food and agriculture
  • privatised university
  • Solomon Islands and logging

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au