Geographies of Global Resistance. This project explores recent responses to globalisation, often termed resistance, at global, national and local scales. Institutional and non-institutional responses are explored through contrasting case studies chosen from: first, the organised labour movement in Australia; second, from new social movements involving highly publicised anti-globalisation protests in particular places; and third, other spontaneous internet-based forms of resistance known as 'cult ....Geographies of Global Resistance. This project explores recent responses to globalisation, often termed resistance, at global, national and local scales. Institutional and non-institutional responses are explored through contrasting case studies chosen from: first, the organised labour movement in Australia; second, from new social movements involving highly publicised anti-globalisation protests in particular places; and third, other spontaneous internet-based forms of resistance known as 'culture jamming'. The research will contribute to better understanding the nature of globalisation, relationships between global and local change and strategies of resistance. The research is significant in bringing together insights from new approaches in both economic and cultural geography.Read moreRead less
Toward a political ecology of risk in river basin development: The case of the Mekong. This project is designed to examine the distribution and redistribution of risk associated with environmental change and large scale development interventions in the Mekong Region. The research aims to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly emerging field of political ecology, by moving beyond an analysis of winners and losers based on certainty and post-facto impacts. The study will work toward an ana ....Toward a political ecology of risk in river basin development: The case of the Mekong. This project is designed to examine the distribution and redistribution of risk associated with environmental change and large scale development interventions in the Mekong Region. The research aims to make a theoretical contribution to the rapidly emerging field of political ecology, by moving beyond an analysis of winners and losers based on certainty and post-facto impacts. The study will work toward an analysis driven by the inherent uncertainties that underlie both the social construction and social distribution of environmental risk. The research also has important practical implications for environmental and social assessment methodologies in and beyond the case study region.Read moreRead less
Foregrounding the suburban backyard: using hybrid spaces to develop new environmental theory for more effective management of human landscapes. Although human influences now pervade all Earth processes, environmental ideals of pristine past landscapes without people continue to dominate. The project addresses the challenge of managing environments for hybridity, change and human presence, rather than timeless purity. I will undertake the first in-depth ethnographic study of the suburban backya ....Foregrounding the suburban backyard: using hybrid spaces to develop new environmental theory for more effective management of human landscapes. Although human influences now pervade all Earth processes, environmental ideals of pristine past landscapes without people continue to dominate. The project addresses the challenge of managing environments for hybridity, change and human presence, rather than timeless purity. I will undertake the first in-depth ethnographic study of the suburban backyard, Australia's most hybrid ecosystem. I analyse how categories of environmental belonging - indigenous/introduced, wild/tame, hybrid/pure - are differentially applied to people, other species and landscapes, in policy and popular culture. This contributes to new theories of long term human-environment interactions and effective management of human landscapes. Outcomes will include books and museum exhibitions.Read moreRead less
Making less space for carbon: cultural research for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The project meets the pressing need for a national response to climate change. The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework identifies a number of cultural changes needed within the next five years to adapt to existing climate change. Profound cultural transformations are also urgently needed to mitigate future change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The true national benefit of this work shoul ....Making less space for carbon: cultural research for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The project meets the pressing need for a national response to climate change. The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework identifies a number of cultural changes needed within the next five years to adapt to existing climate change. Profound cultural transformations are also urgently needed to mitigate future change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The true national benefit of this work should be assessed in terms of the costs of not funding it. Australia's capacity to adapt will only ever be partial without the new and fundamental insights provided by cultural geographic research. Read moreRead less
Measuring and mapping the experience of racism in Australia. This is the first empirical assessment of the circumstances and frequency of the experience of racism in Australia. A telephone survey, 12000 respondents, and fieldwork in ten localities, are the major method. Spatial and social variations in the experience of racism will be analysed. Social construction theory will be tested as an explanation of such variations. Regional anti-racism packages will be developed and tested in the field. ....Measuring and mapping the experience of racism in Australia. This is the first empirical assessment of the circumstances and frequency of the experience of racism in Australia. A telephone survey, 12000 respondents, and fieldwork in ten localities, are the major method. Spatial and social variations in the experience of racism will be analysed. Social construction theory will be tested as an explanation of such variations. Regional anti-racism packages will be developed and tested in the field. Decision-support tools for local authorities and communities to combat racism will be provided. A unique racism database will underpin a scholarly monograph, doctoral dissertation and a series of refereed articles.Read moreRead less
A study of the Australian thoroughbred and racing industry and the construction of 'nature'. The thoroughbred breeding and racing industry contributes significantly to national export income, regional development and national identity in Australia. Studying the physical and discursive construction and use of 'nature' (including, soil, grass, water, reproduction and the necessity of the unpredictability of nature) in different phases of breeding and racing improves understandings of technology ad ....A study of the Australian thoroughbred and racing industry and the construction of 'nature'. The thoroughbred breeding and racing industry contributes significantly to national export income, regional development and national identity in Australia. Studying the physical and discursive construction and use of 'nature' (including, soil, grass, water, reproduction and the necessity of the unpredictability of nature) in different phases of breeding and racing improves understandings of technology adoption, human-animal relations, sport and nature. Research outcomes will improve our understanding of this traditionally resilient but now vulnerable industry, thereby enhancing its capacity to adapt to change and remain internationally competitive.Read moreRead less
Men on the home front: spatialities of domesticity and masculinity. This project promotes 'good health and well being for all Australians'. Case studies 1 and 2 investigate the factors underpinning self-reliance and family support in a time of changing household structures. They seek to understand how the domestic lives of men both living alone, and in families, can better contribute to social well-being and wider community interaction and cohesion. Case study 3 focuses on a group of men margina ....Men on the home front: spatialities of domesticity and masculinity. This project promotes 'good health and well being for all Australians'. Case studies 1 and 2 investigate the factors underpinning self-reliance and family support in a time of changing household structures. They seek to understand how the domestic lives of men both living alone, and in families, can better contribute to social well-being and wider community interaction and cohesion. Case study 3 focuses on a group of men marginalised from wider society and the care networks servicing the aged community, thus providing knowledge that will improve the mental and physical capacities of older gay men.Read moreRead less
Beyond dualisms in the conceptualisation and management of Australian landscapes and species. It is increasingly recognised that the major barriers to the urgent challenges of environmental sustainability are social, cultural and organisational rather than scientific. This project will help Australia imagine and implement environmental strategies that come to terms with the reality of a peopled landscape and thus better manage landscapes and species. It will place Australia at the forefront of i ....Beyond dualisms in the conceptualisation and management of Australian landscapes and species. It is increasingly recognised that the major barriers to the urgent challenges of environmental sustainability are social, cultural and organisational rather than scientific. This project will help Australia imagine and implement environmental strategies that come to terms with the reality of a peopled landscape and thus better manage landscapes and species. It will place Australia at the forefront of international intellectual debates about relationships between the human and non-human worlds, and contribute to our continued international leadership in biodiversity conservation and heritage management. It will foster linkages with Sweden and build a node of innovative interdisciplinary postgraduate research training.Read moreRead less
Reinventing rural places? The extent and impact of festivals as regeneration strategies. This research addresses the important problem of rural decline in Australia. The project will make available new knowledge on innovation in rural places. Benefits will accrue to specific communities from insights on the possibilities and limitations of renewal through festivals. Tourism promoters and regional development policy makers will be able to make use of the online database of rural festivals. Nation ....Reinventing rural places? The extent and impact of festivals as regeneration strategies. This research addresses the important problem of rural decline in Australia. The project will make available new knowledge on innovation in rural places. Benefits will accrue to specific communities from insights on the possibilities and limitations of renewal through festivals. Tourism promoters and regional development policy makers will be able to make use of the online database of rural festivals. National benefits include greater understanding of the significance of festivals. Research will empower rural communities and advance theory on rural restructuring, post-productivism and the reciprocal relationship between place and identities. In these ways, the project seeks to strengthen the social and economic fabric of rural Australia. Read moreRead less
Privatising neighbourhoods? Governance and social life in master-planned residential estates. Australian residential neighbourhoods are changing in the face of growing privatisation and privatism, with major implications for the strength of the social and economic fabric of cities. Master planned residential estates are emblematic of this change. This project empirically investigates the extent and nature of privatisation and privatism in these new residential environments. It will provide a rig ....Privatising neighbourhoods? Governance and social life in master-planned residential estates. Australian residential neighbourhoods are changing in the face of growing privatisation and privatism, with major implications for the strength of the social and economic fabric of cities. Master planned residential estates are emblematic of this change. This project empirically investigates the extent and nature of privatisation and privatism in these new residential environments. It will provide a rigorous analysis necessary to growing national debates about creating and sustaining urban social cohesion, and on the importance of social ties between people for producing a more prosperous Australia.Read moreRead less