Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
In broad terms, my research and teaching focuses on the intersections between social change, environmental degradation and environmental governance. I have examined this through studies of the consumption of goods and materials, and associated issues of waste, reuse and materials recycling, and of the social and cultural aspects of land use change in rural and regional Australia and its biodiversity consequences. My current research sits at the interface between social science research on consumption and the study of socio-technical transitions at the interlinked scales of the household, the city and the nation. I am currently involved in four major research projects:
1) Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy: I am lead investigator on this ARC Linkage Project which aims to build understanding of the role of charitable and community organisations in facilitating reuse in the circular economy and to inform policy and programs to support reuse in addition to materials recycling. (2021-2024)
2) Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city: I am Lead investigator on this Australian Research Council Discovery Project that examines the potential of households to contribute as innovators in a low waste sustainability transition. (2020-2023)
3) Investigating innovative waste economies: Redrawing the circular economy: This project, led by Prof Gay Hawkins at Western Sydney University, examines innovative case studies addressing single use plastics, organics and textiles to understand how more sustainable waste economies are practically developed. I am undertaking case study research into mattress recycling. (2021-2024)
4) National Environmental Science Program (NESP) on Sustainable Communities and Waste. I am leading a sub-project on 'Governing community-based resource recovery and circular economy initiatives that aims to facilitate circular economy networks in regional and remote Australia.
Supervision
I am am not currently accepting new PhD students.
Monash teaching commitment
APG5428 Environmental Governance and Citizenship (Master of Environment and Sustainability, core in Environment and Governance specialisation)
APG5230 Field Studies in Environmental Governance (Master of Environment and Sustainability, core in Environment and Governance specialisation)
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Consumption
- life course
- reuse
- recycling
- social enterprises
- geography
- household
- Waste management
- Material Culture
- Land use
- Private Land Conservation
Network
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NESP2_IP5.02 – Waste Impact Management Research
Lane, R., Schandl, H., Kaufman, S., Baynes, T., Lu, Y., Wiedmann, T., Kaksonen, A. H., Boxall, N., Cheng, K. Y., Vince, J., Zaman, A., Minnuno, R., Tobin, S. & Wilson, A.
1/07/22 → 30/03/24
Project: Research
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IIWE: Investigating Innovative Waste Economies: redrawing the circular economy
Hawkins, G., Healy, S., Mellick Lopes, A. & Lane, R.
16/08/21 → 15/08/24
Project: Research
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Investigating Innovative Waste Economies: redrawing the circular economy
Hawkins, G., Healy, S., Mellick Lopes, A. & Lane, R.
1/05/21 → 30/04/24
Project: Research
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Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy
Lane, R., Grodach, C., Healy, S. & Soker, O.
8/10/20 → 30/06/24
Project: Research
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Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city
Lane, R., Lindsay, J., Raven, R., Arunachalam, D. & Kronsell, A.
1/01/20 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
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Pro-social concerns characterise landlords’ energy efficiency retrofit behaviour: evidence and implications for energy efficiency policy in Victoria, Australia
Lang, M., Zhao, K., Lane, R. & Raven, R., 2023, (Accepted/In press) In: International Journal of Housing Policy. 23 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Bread baking, food growing, and bicycle riding: practice memories and household consumption during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne
Lindsay, J., Lane, R., Raven, R. & Reynolds, D., 2022, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 18, 1, p. 466-482 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Energy efficiency in the private rental sector in Victoria, Australia: when and why do small-scale private landlords retrofit?
Lang, M., Lane, R., Zhao, K. & Raven, R., Jun 2022, In: Energy Research & Social Science. 88, 13 p., 102533.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
5 Citations (Scopus) -
Coastal wetland management in the Great Barrier Reef: Farmer perceptions
Oza, T. M., Lane, R., Adame, M. F. & Reef, R., Nov 2021, In: Geographical Research. 59, 1, p. 537-553 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
3 Citations (Scopus) -
Households in sustainability transitions: a systematic review and new research avenues
Raven, R., Reynolds, D., Lane, R., Lindsay, J., Kronsell, A. & Arunachalam, D., Sep 2021, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 40, p. 87-107 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
8 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Expert advice to Circular Hub
Ruth Lane (Fellow)
1 Sep 2022 → 1 Sep 2023Activity: External Academic Engagement › Expert/ advisor
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International Workshop on Household Innovation and Agency in Sustainability Transitions
Ruth Lane (Organiser), Rob Raven (Organiser) & Jo Lindsay (Organiser)
26 Oct 2022 → 28 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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Australian Circular Economy Hub: Circularity Metrics Working Group
Ruth Lane (Fellow)
2 Mar 2021Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Transformation of waste management practices and policies in South Asia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Impacts on gender equality and sustainability
Ruth Lane (Fellow)
6 Jun 2021Activity: External Academic Engagement › Grant review responsibilities
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NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Project Microplastics in the Australian Marine Environment (2020) Roundtable Workshop
Ruth Lane (Fellow)
27 Oct 2020Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
Press/Media
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Households find low waste living challenging. Here's what needs to change
Rob Raven, David Oro Reynolds, Jo Lindsay & Ruth Lane
23/02/23 → 26/02/23
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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What motivates landlords to retrofit rental properties for energy efficiency?
Michaela Lang, Rob Raven & Ruth Lane
18/08/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Les ateliers d’autoréparation du vélo et l’enseignement de la vélonomie
Simon Batterbury, Alejandro Manga, Mattias Kowasch & Ruth Lane
7/04/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Bike kitchens: the community-run repair workshops that help build a culture of cycling
Simon Batterbury, Alejandro Manga, Mattias Kowasch & Ruth Lane
4/01/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Bin-shaming: the fine line between recycling education and community alienation
25/11/20 → 27/11/20
3 Media contributions
Press/Media: Expert Comment