Profiles
Chloe Lucas
Chloe Lucas
Research Fellow
Room 431, Geography/Geology - Building 12, Sandy Bay Campus
+61 3 6226 2205 (phone)
Dr Chloe Lucas is a Research Fellow in Geography and Spatial Sciences. Her research explores the social dimensions of climate change. Chloe’s career has focused on ways to improve communication about climate and environmental issues across all sections of society. With this intent, her PhD examined why climate change has become a publicly and politically polarising issue, investigating the values and experiences underlying unconcern about climate change. Her research identifies pathways to more empathetic and inclusive conversations between publics with different focal concerns.
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 and NGOs.
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
- Institute of Australian Geographers
- International Environmental Communication Association
Teaching
Teaching expertise
Chloe has worked since 2014 as a guest lecturer and tutor in Environmental Management (KGA223), Making Sense of Climate Change (KGA319), Qualitative Research Methods (KGA520), and Global Geographies, Sustainable Worlds (KGA171). She has also tutored in Journalism.
View more on Dr Chloe Lucas in WARP
Expertise
- Environmental values, politics and culture
- Communication studies
- Climate change adaptation
- Science and technology studies
- Geographies of insurance in disaster-prone places
- 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 crossover between two of the University's research themes; Creativity, Culture and Society and Environment, Resources and Sustainability.
Collaboration
Chloe collaborates with researchers from across disciplines and colleges at the University of Tasmania, as well as with a number of Australian and international research partners. As a postgraduate, she founded the People and Environment Cross-disciplinary Postgrad Society, which has members from across the University, and runs special events and peer learning opportunities.
Current collaborations include:
- The Climate Communication Project, with Climate Outreach UK
- Community bushfire risk and understanding project, with Prof David Bowman (UTAS School of Natural Sciences) and Hobart City Council
- Visiting scholar at Exeter University in 2019
Current projects
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Geographies of House and Contents Underinsurance ARC Discovery Project
- Chief Investigator – Bushfire preparedness and risk reduction in Hobart pilot project, funded by Environment, Resources and Sustainability Theme
- Chief Investigator – After the Flood pilot project, funded by Environment, Resources and Sustainability Theme and College of Science and Engineering Research Enhancement Program
- Research Assistant – Antarctic Cities and the Global Commons: Rethinking the Gateways, ARC Linkage Project
Fields of Research
- Social and Cultural Geography (160403)
- Land Use and Environmental Planning (120504)
- Urban and Regional Studies (excl. Planning) (160404)
- Environmental Management (050205)
- Conservation and Biodiversity (050202)
Research Objectives
- Climate and Climate Change (960399)
- Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society (970116)
- Social Impacts of Climate Change and Variability (960311)
- Environmental Policy, Legislation and Standards (960799)
- Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales (960805)
- Urban Land Policy (960708)
Publications
Total publications
9
Journal Article
(6 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Nielsen H, Lucas C, 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 H; Leane E | |
| 2018 | Lucas C, 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 - 1Web of Science - 1 Co-authors: Warman R | |
| 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 - 5Web of Science - 5 | |
| 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] Co-authors: Davison A | |
| 2016 | Lucas C, '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 C, 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 - 11Web of Science - 9 Co-authors: Leith P; Davison A |
Thesis
(1 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Lucas CH, 'Cultures of Concern and Unconcern: Thinking Differently about Climate Change' (2018) [PhD] |
Other Public Output
(2 outputs)| Year | Citation | Altmetrics |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Lucas C, 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 | |
| 2018 | Booth KI, Lucas C, '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 |