Social Research Students 2004

The social researchers at ILFR supervise a number of honours, masters and PhD research projects that make a direct contribution to ILFR's ongoing social research capabilities. Several of these higher degrees are supported by scholarships funded by Dairy Australia, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Swiss Aid, AusAID and the University of Melbourne. Many of these research projects are co-supervised by academics from the different social research streams and external partners from government.

Current (2004) student research projects include;

Lucia Boxelaar. PhD candidate. Towards a Post-productivist Platform for Change in Natural Resource Management and Agriculture: An Exploration of a Social Capability Building Project in Rural Victoria examines recent government emphasis on community capacity building. Supervisors Dr Ruth Beilin, Dr Mark Paine

Sonya Love. Masters candidate. Catalysts for Change in Catchment Communities will involve developing and testing a process that stakeholders in catchment management can use to enhance their understanding of others' decision making strategies. Dr Mark Paine, Dr Cameron Gourley (DPI, Ellinbank), Ms Alice Melland (DPI, Ellinbank).

Maria Rose. PhD candidate. Understanding how the use of Continuous Business Improvement processes can also be opportunities for farmers to construct knowledge about water use efficiency. Dr Ruth Beilin, Dr Mark Paine

Helen Todd's PhD research aims to develop descriptions of social and family commitments in different dairy farming systems, and the how these respond to changes such as intensification and business decision making. Prof Tom Cowan (University of Queensland), Dr Mark Paine

Michelle Rawlings' PhD research aims to provide a comprehensive description of dairy farmer financial decision making processes with a focus on learning intervention and thus human change. Dr Mark Paine, A/Prof Bill Malcolm.

Jane Weatherley. PhD Candidate. Farmlets as Learning Platforms for the Australian Dairy Industry is investigating the professional learning associated with the introduction of a modelling tool, DairyMod, as part of the National Dairy Farming Systems. Dr Mark Paine, Ms Amabel Fulton, Dr Scott Champion

Uma Acharya. PhD candidate. Biodiversity Conservation in Community Forestry, Nepal. Dr RJ Petheram and R. Reid.

Frank Alkam. Masters in Forest Science. Evaluation of the sustainability of European Union funded ecoforestry projects in Papua New Guinea. Dr RJ Petheram and J. Perkins.

Himlal Baral. Masters of Forest Science. Applications of GIS in Community Forest Management in Nepal. Dr RJ Petheram and I. Wild.

Sebastian Buckingham. Masters in NRM. Cardomon Production in Livelihoods of People Near Forests, Vietnam. Dr RJ Petheram and Dr J. Perkins.

Mathias Chemonges. Masters in Natural Resources Management. Herbalists' Use of Forest and their Views on Forest Management: The Case of Kakamega Forest, Kenya. Dr RJ Petheram and Dr J. Perkins.

Nav Raj Ghimire. Master of Agricultural Science. Participation in Development in Agriculture R&D Programs, Nepal. Dr RJ Petheram and J. Perkins.

Julie Francis. Master of Agricultural Science. Interests and Attitudes of Small Lifestyle Landowners in Regards to Environmental Management, NE Vic. John Perkins, Dr RJ Petheram and Warren Straw.

Quang Ha Hoang. PhD candidate. Resource Economics and Livelihoods in National Parks in Vietnam. Dr RJ Petheram and I. Ferguson

Sushana Karki. Masters in Forest Science. Evaluation of Data Sources for use in GIS in Forestry. Dr Leon Bren and Dr RJ Petheram.

Anna Witasari. PhD candidate. Community Forestry Initiatives in Indonesia. This research aims to explore existing community forestry approach, using a case study in Indonesia. Dr RJ Petheram and P. Stephen.

Rebecca Ford. PhD candidate. Social acceptability of forest management systems. Dr Kathryn William, Prof Ian Bishop, Dr Trevor Webb

Wang Hong. Masters candidate. Landholder perception of quality of riparian areas. Dr Kathryn William, Dr Ruth Beilin

Julia Hamer. Masters candidate. Attachment to place and concepts of stewardship in regard to box iron bark landscape. Dr Kathryn William, Dr Ruth Beilin

David Kendall. Masters candidate. Social factors that shape decisions about using native plants as hedge plantings. Horticultural production and social evaluation of native plants used as hedge plantings. Dr Kathryn Williams, Leisa Armstrong.

Sarah Pheasant. Masters candidate. Girls and public open space: pricks, parks and perverts. Research using photo elicitation methods to research high school students use and understanding of contested areas in western Melbourne. Dr Ruth Beilin, Dr Kathryn Williams.

Astrid Meilasari-Sugiana. PhD candidate. Community Based Coastal Resource Management in Decentralized Indonesia. Dr Ruth Beilin, Dr John Selsky, Assoc Prof Brian Finlayson.

Anne Vale. Masters candidate. Garden design work of Olive Mellors. Issues of gender and design in historical gardens. Dr Ruth Beilin, Prof Philip Goad.

Joyce Njoba. Masters Candidate. The role of the Triple Bottom Line in Kenyan cashews growers and extension. Dr Ruth Beilin, Dr Simon Batterbury.