Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
In broad terms, my research 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 (Lane and Gorman-Murray 2011), 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.
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.
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.
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 practially developed.
Supervision interests
I am interested in research students with a strong background in social sciences with demonstrated experience with social science theory and methods. I particularly welcome applicants in the following areas:
- Sustainable consumption – social movements, geographies of waste and recycling, housing and sustainable consumption etc.
- Environmental governance at local, national and international scales particularly around waste and recycling, biodiversity, storm water, and air quality
- Environmental justice – especially the interface of expert knowledge and community perspectives on environmental change.
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)
ATS3546 Environmental Assessment and Decision Making
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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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., Yates, J., Grodach, C. & Soker, O.
8/10/20 → 7/10/23
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 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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BC-GRIP Improving Victoria's rental housing energy performance
Lang, M., Lane, R., Raven, R., Zhao, K., Smith, L. & Jorgensen, B.
3/01/18 → 25/03/21
Project: Research
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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
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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
2 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
5 Citations (Scopus) -
Systematic review: Landlords’ willingness to retrofit energy efficiency improvements
Lang, M., Lane, R., Zhao, K., Tham, S., Woolfe, K. & Raven, R., 20 Jun 2021, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 303, p. 1-17 17 p., 127041.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Chapter 7 Conclusion: Collective Conservation Practice in Rural-Amenity Landscapes
Cooke, B. & Lane, R., 2020, Making Ecologies on Private Land: Conservation practice in rural amenity landscapes. 1 ed. United Kingdom: Palgrave PivotResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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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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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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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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
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Victorian Marine and Coastal Council (External organisation)
Ruth Lane (Member)
28 Feb 2019 → 3 Dec 2020Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of an advisory panel/policy group/ board
Press / Media
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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
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The role of reuse within the circular economy
Ruth Lane & Omer Soker
10/11/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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A Sustainable Future
Ruth Lane, Megan Farrelly, Rob Raven & Christopher Nash
8/10/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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Bush block heroes conserve state's wild places
Ruth Lane & Benjamin Cooke
3/10/20
2 Media contributions
Press/Media: Article/Feature