Christopher Ives
Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences
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Biography
I am an interdisciplinary sustainability scientist with expertise in urban social-ecological systems and the human dimensions of environmental management. I joined the School of Geography in 2016 after holding research positions at universities in Australia and Germany. My research interests are broad and typically bring together different disciplinary approaches and types of knowledge to tackle real-world sustainability challenges, especially in urban settings. In particular, I am interested in understanding how people relate to and interact with the natural environments, and the dynamics of sustainability transformations. Increasingly my work is focussed on the 'deeper' dimensions of sustainability such as values, beliefs, worldviews, and the potential for religion to offer new perspectives on sustainability challenges.
Expertise Summary
I have published research articles on a range of topics including:
- conservation social science
- sustainability transformations
- religion and sustainability
- urban ecology and urban planning
- environmental planning policy
- human-environment relationships
Professional Affiliations
Teaching Summary
My teaching portfolio covers a number of topics related to environmental management and sustainability. My teaching straddles both physical and human geography, as successful environmental management… read more
Research Summary
My current research focuses on understanding the multi-dimensional nature of human-environment relationships and how reconnecting society with nature can help in transformations towards… read more
My teaching portfolio covers a number of topics related to environmental management and sustainability. My teaching straddles both physical and human geography, as successful environmental management requires a sophisticated understanding of ecological and landscape dynamics as well as human behaviour, attitudes and values.
I am course director for the MSc in Environmental Leadership and Management. I convene the following modules as part of the programme:
- Techniques for environmental solutions
- Perspectives on environmental leadership
For more information about this programme or to apply, please click here.
Current Research
My current research focuses on understanding the multi-dimensional nature of human-environment relationships and how reconnecting society with nature can help in transformations towards sustainability. I am also exploring how religion shapes values for nature and may offer unique moral and organisational resources for environmental stewardship.
I welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants who are interested in exploring postgraduate research in the above areas of research interest.
For a complete list of publications, please click here for my Google Scholar page.
Past Research
Previously, I have conducted research on a range of topics to do with environmental management and conservation, in particular:
- The values and preferences of urban residents for green open space.
- The biodiversity of urban riparian systems.
- Terrestrial macroinvertebrates as ecological indicators (with a particular focus on ants)
- Urban river management.
Future Research
In the future I will continue to pursue research on the role of religion and faith-based organisations in achieving sustainability outcomes, particularly in cities. I will also explore the concept of leadership in environmental contexts, in particular the importance of character and personal values in effecting meaningful, transformative change.