Sustainability Research Centre

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Sustainability Research Centre

A canopy of trees in a rainforest on Fraser Island.

The Sustainability Research Centre (SRC)—formerly known as the Regional Sustainability Research Group—was formalised as one of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s flagship research concentrations in September 2007.

Research focus

While our work encompasses a range of disciplines and undertakes transdisciplinary research, our core focus is aligned with social, behavioural and economic sciences.

Our disciplinary focus is on the social sciences (eg geography and cultural studies). Our niche area of research projects is societal adaptation—more specifically, understanding the social dimensions of regional environmental change.

Through this focus, we make contributions to knowledge in the areas of:

  • sustainability science
  • resilience
  • adaptive capacity
  • social learning
  • capacity building
  • social capital
  • adaptive management

These contributions have application when dealing with a range of sustainability issues such as coastal management, climate change, and water management (recognised as significant at local through to international scales)—in this way we can address real on-the-ground concerns of society and the environment.

SRC Advisory Board

In 2010, our centre established an Advisory Board to help guide the development of research activity. The Advisory Board includes four eminent Australians.

  1. Professor Stephen Dovers (Chair), Director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
  2. Professor Lesley Head, Australian Laureate Fellow and immediate past President of the Institute of Australian Geographers, University of Wollongong
  3. Professor Hugh Lavery, Chairman, Australian Environment International
  4. Professor Bruce Thom, Former Vice Chancellor UNE, former Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) University of Sydney, former Chair NSW Coastal Council, current member of the Wentworth Group and Emeritus Professor University of Sydney

Our researchers

Our Centre has grown from an initial membership of 16 academic staff in 2007 to over 50 members. 

Researchers in the Sustainability Research Centre include higher degree by research (HDR) students, and early career and established academics from all three University of the Sunshine Coast faculties.  

Programs

Enrolments are now open for the following available via internal and external modes.

  • ABN 28 441 859 157 |
  • CRICOS Provider No 01595D |
  • Updated: 11 May 2012