Profiles
Chloe Lucas
Chloe Lucas
Research Fellow
Geography, Planning & Spatial Sciences
Room 410 , Geography/Geology - Building 12
+61 3 6226 6481 (phone)
Dr Chloe Lucas is a communication specialist whose research explores the social dimensions of climate change. As a documentary producer, an environmental communications consultant, and now as an academic, Chloe’s career has focused on ways to improve communication about climate and sustainability across all sections of society. Her research explores the values and experiences underlying different social responses to climate change, and identifies pathways to more empathetic and inclusive climate conversations. Her recent work focusses on how communication and cultural context drives social adaptation to extreme weather events including bushfires.
Biography
Chloe grew up in London, where she worked as a researcher and producer of science and environment documentaries for the BBC and other broadcasters. Her film credits include Talking Landscapes, and Better by Design. She moved to Australia in 2002, working as a divemaster on the Great Barrier Reef, before taking a Masters in Natural Resource Management at James Cook University. She has worked as a science and environment communicator for the Reef Co-operative Research Centre, the National Oceans Office, as well as other research centres, universities and NGOs. Chloe’s PhD, which investigated cultures of unconcern and polarisation about climate change, was awarded the 2019 Climate Outreach Climate Communications Research Award.
Career summary
Qualifications
| Degree | Thesis Title | University | Country | Awarded |
| PhD | Cultures of Concern and Unconcern: Thinking Differently about Climate Change | University of Tasmania | Australia | 2018 |
| Master of Applied Science | Natural Resource Management | James Cook University | Australia | 2004 |
| Master of Arts (1st class Hons) | English Literature | University of Edinburgh | Scotland, UK | 1997 |
Memberships
Professional practice
Member of the Fire Centre Research Hub
Member of the Centre for Marine Socioecology
Member of the Institute of Australian Geographers
Member of the International Environmental Communication Association
Teaching
Teaching expertise
Chloe designed and coordinated a new postgraduate unit, KGA703 Professional Research Methods, in 2020. She has lectured across a number of units in Geography since 2014, including Environmental Management (KGA223), Making Sense of Climate Change (KGA319), Qualitative Research Methods (KGA520), and Global Geographies, Sustainable Worlds (KGA171).
In 2020, Chloe also co-ordinated Curious Climate Tasmania – Schools Edition, which involves teaching incursions into primary and secondary schools to answer students’ questions about climate change.
Teaching responsibility
Chloe is Unit Coordinator and Lecturer for KGA703 Professional Research Methods. This is a Masters level unit that gives students the skills and knowledge to undertake independent and team research in environmental management, planning, protected area governance, spatial sciences and beyond.
KGA703 Professional Research Methods
Research Appointments
Research Fellow – Enabling Cultures of Bushfire Readiness in Australian Communities, ARC Special Research Initiative for Australian Society, History and Culture 2021-24
Research Fellow - The Social and Biophysical Effects of Alternative Strategies to Reduce Bushfire Danger in Hobart, Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program 2021
Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Geographies of House and Contents Underinsurance, ARC Discovery Project 2018-20
Chief Investigator – Bushfire preparedness and risk reduction in Hobart pilot project, funded by Environment, Resources and Sustainability Theme 2018-19
Chief Investigator – After the Flood pilot project, funded by Environment, Resources and Sustainability Theme and College of Science and Engineering Research Enhancement Program 2018
Research Assistant – Antarctic Cities and the Global Commons: Rethinking the Gateways, ARC Linkage Project 2018-20
View more on Dr Chloe Lucas in WARP
Expertise
- Social adaptation to climate change
- Environmental values, politics and culture
- Bushfire preparedness
- Communication studies
- Climate change adaptation
- Qualitative research
- Social surveys and quantitative analysis
- Social theory
Research Themes
Chloe’s research is interdisciplinary, drawing on human geography, sociology, psychology and communication studies. Her research interests align with two of the University's research themes: Creativity, Culture and Society and Environment, Resources and Sustainability.
Chloe is currently working on an Australian Research Council funded project called ‘Enabling cultures of bushfire readiness in Australian communities’. She is investigating how cultural connections to landscape, place and community affect the ways in which people respond to information about bushfire hazards. The study aims to contribute to the safety of Australians by enabling emergency services to more effectively engage diverse communities in dialogue that promotes bushfire readiness, by connecting with place-based values, aspirations and behaviours.
Awards
2020 Invited Keynote Speaker, Fay Gale Memorial Lecture, Institute of Australian Geographers.
2019 Winner, Climate Outreach Award for Climate Communications Research for PhD ‘Cultures of concern and unconcern: Thinking differently about climate change’
2019 Wiley Award for Best Paper in Geographical Research: Highly Commended for ‘Concerning values: What underlies public polarisation about climate change?’
Fields of Research
- Social geography (440610)
- Human impacts of climate change and human adaptation (410103)
- Economic geography (440603)
- Environmental education curriculum and pedagogy (390105)
- Urban geography (440612)
- Environmental management (410404)
- Land use and environmental planning (330404)
- Urban and regional planning (330499)
- Environmental geography (440604)
- Strategic, metropolitan and regional planning (330408)
- Human geography (440699)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, society and community (450599)
- Environmental management (410499)
- Historical, comparative and typological linguistics (470406)
- Fire ecology (410205)
- Natural resource management (410406)
- Environmental law (480203)
- Conservation and biodiversity (410401)
Research Objectives
- Social impacts of climate change and variability (190103)
- Expanding knowledge in human society (280123)
- Climate change adaptation measures (excl. ecosystem) (190101)
- Climatological hazards (e.g. extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires) (190401)
- Effects of climate change on Australia (excl. social impacts) (190504)
- Teaching and curriculum (160399)
- Environmental policy, legislation and standards (190299)
- Terrestrial biodiversity (180606)
- Other environmental management (189999)
- Land policy (190207)
- Natural hazards (190499)
- Climate change mitigation strategies (190301)
- Public services policy advice and analysis (230204)
- Understanding the impact of natural hazards caused by climate change (190508)
Publications
Chloe has published in top-ranked journals including WIRES Climate Change, Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, and Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. She received a ‘Highly Commended’ Wiley Award for Best Paper in Geographical Research for ‘Concerning Values: What underlies public participation about climate change?’ (Lucas, 2018).
Chloe also contributes to popular media. An article she co-authored in The Conversation on the crisis of underinsurance facing communities after the 2019-20 bushfires (Lucas, Bowman & Eriksen 2020) has been read 250,000 times. Chloe makes use of her background in film-making to present work in innovative ways – her Fay Gale Memorial Lecture for the Institute of Australian Geographers was filmed in and around Hobart. She has also contributed to the Climate Communications Project.
You can find Chloe’s profiles on Researchgate, Google scholar, The Conversation, Publons, ORCID, and Twitter.
Total publications
31
Highlighted publications
(4 outputs)| Year | Type | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Journal Article | Lucas CH, Booth KI, 'Privatizing climate adaptation: How insurance weakens solidaristic and collective disaster recovery', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change Article e676. ISSN 1757-7799 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.676 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Booth KI | |
| 2018 | Journal Article | Lucas CH, Davison A, 'Not getting on the bandwagon': When climate change is a matter of unconcern', Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space pp. 1-21. ISSN 2514-8486 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/2514848618818763 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Davison A | |
| 2018 | Journal Article | Lucas CH, Warman R, 'Disrupting polarized discourses: can we get out of the ruts of environmental conflicts?', Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 36, (6) pp. 987-1005. ISSN 2399-6544 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/2399654418772843 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Warman R | |
| 2015 | Journal Article | Lucas CH, Leith P, Davison A, 'How climate change research undermines trust in everyday life: a review', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 6, (1) pp. 79-91. ISSN 1757-7780 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.320 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 23Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Leith P; Davison A |
Journal Article
(14 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Booth K, Lucas C, Eriksen C, de Vet E, Tranter B, et al., 'House and contents underinsurance: Insights from bushfire-prone Australia', International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 80 Article 103209. ISSN 2212-4209 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103209 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Booth K; Tranter B | |
| 2022 | Lucas CH, Williamson GJ, Bowman DMJS, 'Neighbourhood bushfire hazard, community risk perception and preparedness in peri-urban Hobart, Australia', International Journal of Wildland Fire, 31, (12) pp. 1129-1143. ISSN 1448-5516 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1071/WF22099 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Williamson GJ; Bowman DMJS | |
| 2022 | Young T, Lucas CH, Booth K, 'Insurance, fire and the peri-urban: perceptions of changing communities in Melbourne's rural-urban interface', Australian Geographer, 53, (1) pp. 41-60. ISSN 0004-9182 (2022) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/00049182.2022.2052238 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 2Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Booth K | |
| 2021 | Leane E, Lucas CH, Marx K, Datta D, Nielsen H, et al., 'From gateway to custodian city: Understanding urban residents' sense of connectedness to Antarctica', Geographical Research, 59, (4) pp. 522-536. ISSN 1745-5863 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12490 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 3Web of Science - 2 Co-authors: Leane E; Marx K; Datta D; Nielsen H | |
| 2021 | Lucas CH, 'Climate friction: How climate change communication produces resistance to concern', Geographical Research Article 12514. ISSN 1745-5863 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12514 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1 | |
| 2021 | Lucas CH, Booth KI, Garcia C, 'Insuring homes against extreme weather events: a systematic review of the research', Climatic Change, 165, (3) Article 61. ISSN 1573-1480 (2021) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03093-1 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 4Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Booth KI; Garcia C | |
| 2020 | Lobo M, Bedford L, Bellingham RA, Davies K, Halafoff A, et al., 'Earth unbound: Climate change, activism and justice', Educational Philosophy and Theory pp. 1-19. ISSN 0013-1857 (2020) [Non Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2020.1866541 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 1Web of Science - 2 | |
| 2020 | Lucas CH, Booth KI, 'Privatizing climate adaptation: How insurance weakens solidaristic and collective disaster recovery', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change Article e676. ISSN 1757-7799 (2020) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.676 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 15Web of Science - 11 Co-authors: Booth KI | |
| 2019 | Nielsen HEF, Lucas CH, Leane E, 'Rethinking Tasmania's regionality from an Antarctic perspective: flipping the map', M/C Journal, 22, (3) Article 1528. ISSN 1441-2616 (2019) [Refereed Article] Co-authors: Nielsen HEF; Leane E | |
| 2018 | Lucas CH, 'Concerning values: what underlies public polarisation about climate change?', Geographical Research, 56, (3) pp. 298-310. ISSN 1745-5871 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12284 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 26Web of Science - 23 | |
| 2018 | Lucas CH, Davison A, 'Not getting on the bandwagon': When climate change is a matter of unconcern', Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space pp. 1-21. ISSN 2514-8486 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/2514848618818763 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Davison A | |
| 2018 | Lucas CH, Warman R, 'Disrupting polarized discourses: can we get out of the ruts of environmental conflicts?', Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 36, (6) pp. 987-1005. ISSN 2399-6544 (2018) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1177/2399654418772843 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 17Web of Science - 17 Co-authors: Warman R | |
| 2016 | Lucas CH, 'Planning to help our natural landscapes adapt to climate change', Planning News (Victoria), 42, (6) pp. 10-11. ISSN 1329-2862 (2016) [Professional, Non Refereed Article] | |
| 2015 | Lucas CH, Leith P, Davison A, 'How climate change research undermines trust in everyday life: a review', Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 6, (1) pp. 79-91. ISSN 1757-7780 (2015) [Refereed Article] DOI: 10.1002/wcc.320 [eCite] [Details] Citations: Scopus - 23Web of Science - 19 Co-authors: Leith P; Davison A |
Book
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Booth K, Lucas CH, French S, 'Climate, Society and Elemental Insurance: Capacities and Limitations', Routledge, Oxford, UK, pp. 224. ISBN 978-0-367-74386-4 (2022) [Edited Book] DOI: 10.4324/9781003157571 [eCite] [Details] Co-authors: Booth K |
Chapter in Book
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Lucas CH, 'Conclusion: Deconstructing the dualisms of elemental insurance', Climate, Society and Elemental Insurance: Capacities and Limitations, Routledge, K Booth, C Lucas & S French (ed), Oxford, UK, pp. 70-82. ISBN 978-0-367-74386-4 (2022) [Research Book Chapter] | |
| 2022 | Lucas CH, Young T, 'After the flood: Diverse discourses of resilience in the United States and Australia', Climate, Society and Elemental Insurance: Capacities and Limitations, Routledge, K Booth, C Lucas & S French (ed), Oxford, UK, pp. 70-82. ISBN 978-0-367-74386-4 (2022) [Research Book Chapter] |
Conference Publication
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Lucas C, Davison A, Bowman D, 'Communicating with and within fire-adapting communities', Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, 5-8 July 2022, Armidale, NSW, pp. 1-8. (2022) [Conference Extract] Co-authors: Davison A; Bowman D |
Thesis
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Lucas CH, 'Cultures of Concern and Unconcern: Thinking Differently about Climate Change' (2018) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(12 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Beasy K, Lucas C, Mocatta G, Pecl GT, Kelly Rachel, 'How well does the new Australian curriculum prepare young people for climate change?', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 23 May 2022 (2022) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Beasy K; Mocatta G; Pecl GT; Kelly Rachel | |
| 2022 | Booth K, Lucas C, 'What insurance tells us about our (in)capacity for climate resilience', Common Dreams, Online, 8 September 2022, pp. 1-4. (2022) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Booth K | |
| 2021 | Booth K, Lucas C, Eriksen C, 'Underinsurance is entrenching poverty as the vulnerable are hit hardest by disasters', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 4 February 2021, pp. 1-4. (2021) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Booth K | |
| 2021 | Lucas CH, ''They lost our receipts three times': how getting an insurance payout can be a full-time job', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 22 March 2021 (2021) [Newspaper Article] | |
| 2021 | Lucas CH, 'Australia's catastrophic wildfires: The bushfires of 2019-20', Geography Review, Philip Allan Magazines/Hodder & Stoughton Limited, United Kingdom, April 2021 (2021) [Magazine Article] | |
| 2021 | Mocatta G, Lucas CH, 'Children deserve answers to their questions about climate change. Here's how universities can help', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 19 October 2021 (2021) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Mocatta G | |
| 2020 | Lucas CH, Eriksen C, Bowman D, 'A crisis of underinsurance threatens to scar rural Australia permanently', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 7 January 2020 (2020) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Bowman D | |
| 2019 | Lucas CH, 'Climate Communications Research Award', Climate Outreach, United Kingdom (2019) [Award] | |
| 2019 | Lucas CH, Corner A, Davison A, Leith P, 'Not everyone cares about climate change, but reproach won't change their minds', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 12 June 2019 (2019) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Davison A; Leith P | |
| 2019 | Lucas CH, Williamson GJ, Bowman D, 'Bushfire Preparedness and Risk Reduction in Hobart Pilot Study 2019 Final Report', Hobart, Tasmania, pp. 1-40. (2019) [Government or Industry Research] Co-authors: Williamson GJ; Bowman D | |
| 2018 | Booth KI, Lucas CH, 'Insurance is unaffordable for some, but it's middle Australia that is underinsured', The Conversation, The Conversation Media Group Ltd, Australia, 20 November 2018 (2018) [Newspaper Article] Co-authors: Booth KI | |
| 2018 | Lucas CH, '2018 Wiley Award for Best paper in Geographical Research: Highly Commended', Institute of Australian Geographers (2018) [Award] |
Grants & Funding
Chloe secured a 3 year Research Fellowship by leading the design and writing of a successful ARC Special Research Initiative grant on communication for bushfire preparedness (2021-2024, $290k); a scheme with a success rate of only 7%. This research will be conducted concurrently with another grant she helped secure from the Tasmanian Government Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program involving a partnership with City of Hobart (2021, $199k).
Funding Summary
Number of grants
4
Total funding
Projects
- Description
- This awareness and capacity project is anticipated to improve the resilience of the community and increase the community's ability to recover from bushfires in the social and built environment by engaging neighbourhoods in Greater Hobart's highest bushfire risk areas to improve community bushfire awareness, risk mitigation and preparedness, strengthening social connections to enhance resilience. Project activities comprise of improving awareness of local bushfire risks and responsibilities, establishing relationships to support community-led risk mitigation, developing peer-to-peer networks to improve neighbourhood planning and preparation, engaging local businesses and organisations to actively participate in readiness, and identifying training opportunities to enhance community resilience. The effectiveness of methods used to engage communities in bushfire preparedness will be evaluated through a research component of the project. The project location is the priority bushfire risk LGA Hobart TAS.
- Funding
- City of Hobart ($60,000)
- Scheme
- Contract Research
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Lucas CH; Ondei S; Bowman DMJS
- Period
- 2022 - 2024
- Description
- This project will help the City of Hobart refine its fuel hazard assessment methods for use in gardens and native bushland, and help develop engagement pathways to encourage fuel hazard reduction on private property in Hobart
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($187,721)
- Scheme
- Grant-NDRRGP
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Bowman DMJS; Ondei S; Lucas CH; Williamson G; Wallace LO
- Period
- 2022 - 2023
- Description
- This project aims to evaluate the social and biophysical effects of innovative bushfire risk reduction strategies undertaken by the City of Hobart. It further aims to recommend ways to maximise the effectiveness of future interventions.
- Funding
- Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management [TAS] ($199,039)
- Scheme
- Grant-Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Bowman DMJS; Williamson G; Furlaud J; Lucas CH
- Period
- 2021 - 2022
- Description
- This project aims to improve bushfire preparation by examining how cultural connections to landscape, place and community affect the ways in which people respond to information about bushfire hazards. Australia's Black Summer showed that many households are inadequately prepared for the 'new normal' of faster, fiercer fires. This is particularly concerning on the urban fringe, where rapid development is changing landscapes, and households face complex socio-economic challenges. The study aims to contribute to the safety of Australians by enabling emergency services to more effectively engage diverse communities in dialogue that promotes bushfire readiness, by connecting with place-based values, aspirations and behaviours.
- Funding
- Australian Research Council ($289,479)
- Scheme
- Grant-Special Research Initiatives
- Administered By
- University of Tasmania
- Research Team
- Davison AG; Bowman DMJS; Bosomworth K; Lucas CH
- Period
- 2020 - 2023
- Grant Reference
- SR200200441
Research Supervision
Chloe currently supervises a small cohort of PhD students researching social responses to climate change and communication for bushfire preparedness.
Current
3
Current
| Degree | Title | Commenced |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | Feeling Climate Change: The affect of climate on young Australians' relationships with family and future | 2021 |
| PhD | Cultures of Communication for Bushfire Preparation | 2021 |
| PhD | Using Smartphone/Tablet Technology to Improve Community Awareness Collaboration, Risk and Identify Shared Responsibility Opportunities for Bushfire Resilience | 2021 |