Research Themes

Shaping the Future of People and Planet

At the Society, Nature and Place lab, we bridge the gap between social science and environmental conservation. Our research goes beyond the ‘what’ of ecology to explore the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of human behaviour. By understanding the deep connections between people and their environments, we develop evidence-based strategies to foster a more sustainable and resilient world.

Our research explores which stewardship activities should be prioritised, promoting uptake across the broader community, and exploring how experiences of stewardship can influence people to get more involved.

Our research explores how people connect with and experience nature in both urban and blue space settings. We examine how these experiences influence emotional wellbeing, foster support for conservation initiatives, and can be made accessible to everyone in an increasingly urbanised world.

Our research examines citizen science and other participatory models where community members are involved in environmental monitoring and research. We explore the social impacts of these programs and how they provide entry points for broader citizenship activities and collective action for the environment.

Our research explores the social dimensions of human-wildlife interactions, particularly when conservation generates conflict between social groups or between people and wildlife. We investigate how values, life experience, and social context can be better understood to find solutions that support both conservation outcomes and community wellbeing.

Our research explores which restoration and stewardship activities should be prioritised, ways to promote uptake across the broader community, and how hands-on experiences can influence people to become more involved in protecting and restoring natural environments.

Our research examines how people connect with blue space, from rivers and lakes to coasts and oceans. We explore how these connections influence support for sustainable urban water management, waterway protection, and marine conservation, and investigate strategies to promote effective water stewardship.

Our Projects

At the Society, Nature and Place lab, we bridge the gap between social science and environmental conservation. Our research goes beyond the ‘what’ of ecology to explore the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of human behaviour. By understanding the deep connections between people and their environments, we develop evidence-based strategies to foster a more sustainable and resilient world.

Learn more about our projects

Monitoring Reef Stewardship (PROTECT)

The PROTECT project established the first systematic monitoring framework to track community Reef stewardship across the Great Barrier Reef.

Monitoring Stewardship Norms

This project explores how social norms and communication strategies influence the adoption of sustainable practices in Great Barrier Reef catchments.

Community Water Literacy for Unitywater

This project was a collaborative initiative designed to improve community understanding of the water cycle and its impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

Landscape Restoration Services

This is a major initiative under the NESP Resilient Landscapes Hub that aims to reverse biodiversity decline by improving the effectiveness of Australia’s ecosystem restoration investments.

Protecting Shorebirds of the Sunshine Coast

This project between the Sunshine Coast Council and researchers aims to balance recreational use with the protection of significant environmental values.

Understanding People and Nature

Research That Makes a Difference

We explore how people connect with the environment from urban green spaces to ocean reefs, and develop strategies to promote conservation stewardship and meaningful engagement with the natural world. Through citizen science, community partnerships, and innovative communication strategies, we’re working to strengthen the connections between people and nature for lasting conservation impact.