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Geoff Syme

Geoff Syme

Professor Geoff Syme

Professor

Telephone: (61 8)  6304 2154  
Mobile: 0428 950 499  
Email: g.syme@ecu.edu.au   
Campus: Joondalup  
Room: JO2.210  

 

Current teaching:

Postgraduate Supervision

Background

Geoff has a multidisciplinary background in planning related research with particular emphasis on the incorporation of social analysis with economic and biophysical research. Much of this work has been centred around the development and application of social psychological theory, psychological economics, and social justice theory as a Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Geoff joined ECU after more than 30 years in applied research and consulting (he was Chief Research Scientist at the CSIRO’s Land and Water division). He continues to enjoy an association with CSIRO.

Staff qualifications:

  • BSc (Hons);
  • PhD (Cant).

Research

Research interest:

  • Incorporation of social justice, equity and fairness in planning processes;
  • Systems (and complex systems) approaches to planning;
  • Interdisciplinary psychological and economic approaches to policy evaluation.

Current research area:

  • Integrated assessment of catchment management policy;
  • Community based monitoring within state of environment reporting;
  • Monitoring community behavioural modification in response to climate change.

Recent research grants:

  • Office Of Climate Change (WA)L2008) Community responses to climate change policies;
  • ACIAR (2008) Evaluation of meso level Watershed Development Policies in India Land and Water Australia (2003).

Recent publications

Book Chapters:

  • Syme, G.J. (2003) Essay 1: Planning, Social Justice Research, and Socially Acceptable Decision making. In Stakeholder Involvement in Options Assessment: Promoting Dialogue in Meeting Water and Energy Needs, A Sourcebook, Report 264/03, The World Bank, Washington, D.C. pp18-25;
  • Syme, G.J. and Nancarrow, B.E. (2005) Sharing the Pain of Water Reallocation: Creating Consent by Taking Fairness and Justice Seriously. In D. Cryle and J Hillier (Eds.) Consent and Consensus, Politics, Media and Governance in Twentieth Century Australia, API Network Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia, Chapter 21pp 371-387;
  • Syme, G.J. and Nancarrow, B. E. (2006) Social psychological considerations in the acceptance of reclaimed water for horticultural irrigation. In D. Stevens (Ed.) Growing Crops with Reclaimed Wastewater CSIRO Publishing Collingwood Chapter 13, pp 189-196;
  • Syme, G.J. & Nancarrow, B.E. (2007). A Western Australian perspective on managing wetlands In E. Potter, A. Mackinnon, S. McKenzie and J. McKay (Eds.) Fresh Water. New Perspectives on Water in Australia, Melbourne University E. Press, Carlton, Victoria, Chapter 11: pp 153-168;
  • Syme, G.J. & Nancarrow, B.E. (2007). The social and cultural aspects of sustainable water use. In L.Crase (Ed) Water In Australia. Resources for the Future , Washington, Chapter 15 pp230—247;
  • Syme, G.J. & Hatfield-Dodds, S. (2007). The role of communication and attitudes research in the evolution of effective resource managements. In K.Hussey and S. Dovers (Eds.) Managing Water for Australia: The Social and Institutional Challenges. Chapter 2, pp11-22. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood;
  • Syme, G.J. and Nancarrow, B.E. (2008) Changing attitudes to urban water use and consumption in Transitions: Pathways Towards Sustainable Urban Development in Australia, In Peter W. Newton (Ed.) Chapter 33, pp509-519 CSIRO Publishing Collingwood;
  • Syme, G. J. (2008) Sustainability in urban water futures In P. Troy (Ed.) Troubled Waters: Confronting the crisis in Australia’s cities. Chapter 6, 99-114. ANU E Press, Canberra.

Refereed journal articles:

  • Syme, G.J., Shao, Q., Po, M. and Campbell, E. (2004). Predicting and understanding home garden water use, Landscape and Urban Planning, 68, 121-128;
  • Jorgensen, B.S., Syme, G.J., Smith, L.M. and Bishop, B.J. (2004). Random error in willingness to pay measurement: A multiple indicators, latent variable approach to the reliability of contingent values. Journal of Economic Psychology, 25, 41-59;
  • Bammer, G. O'Connell, D. Roughley, A & Syme (2005). Integration research for natural resource management in Australia: An introduction to new challenges for research practice [Editorial]. Journal of Research Practice 1(2), Article E1. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/18/29;
  • Syme, G. (2005). Integration initiatives at CSIRO: Reflection of an inside. Journal of Research Practice, 1(2), Article M3. Retrieved May 8, 2010 from http://jrp.icaap.org/index.php/jrp/article/view/17/26;
  • Jorgensen, B.S., Syme, G.J. and Nancarrow, B.E. (2006). The role of uncertainty in the relationship between fairness evaluations and willingness to pay. Ecological Economics, 56 104-124;
  • Syme, G.J. and Nancarrow, B.E. (2006) Achieving sustainability and fairness in water reform: A Western Australian case study. Water International, 31, 23-30;
  • Hatfield-Dodds, S., Syme, G.J. and Leitch, A. (2006/7) Improving Australian water management. The contribution of social values research and community engagement. Reform, A Journal of National and International Law Reform, Water, Summer 2006/07, Issue 89, 44-47;
  • Syme, G.J., Porter, N.B., Goeft, U. and Kington, E.A. (2008) Integrating social wellbeing into assessments of water policy: Meeting the challenge for decision makers. Water Policy , 10, 323-343;
  • Balancing Community Values, Needs and Water-Use. Water Symposium Session ‘Societal Value Systems for Water Resources in WA – Overview’, Water Symposium, 7-9 October 2002, Parliament House, Western Australia, Australia;
  • Nancarrow, B.E., Syme, G.J., Porter, N.B. and Walker, R. (2003). An Integrated Methodology for Assessing the Desirability of Improving Drinking Water. Ozwater Convention & Exhibition, AWA 20th Convention 6-10 April 2003, Perth, Western Australia, Australia;
  • Po, M., Syme, G.J., Shao, Q. and Campbell, E. (2003). What Determines Outside Household Water Use? Ozwater Convention & Exhibition, AWA 20th Convention, 6-10 April 2003, Perth, Western Australia, Australia;
  • Jorgensen, B. S., Syme, G. J. & Nancarrow, B. E. (2003). Does respondent uncertainty moderate the effect of fairness evaluations on willingness to pay in contingent valuation surveys? A test of the Uncertainty Management Model of Fairness. The International Association of Research in Economic Psychology (IAREP) Conference Proceedings, September 1-5 2003, Christchurch, New Zealand;
  • Syme, G.J. (2003). Why don't we talk about social sustainability when sharing water? United Nations Association of Australia (Victoria) Inc., National Water Conference 2003, Towards a National Water Policy Framework: Vision to Implementation, 7-8 October 2003, Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Victoria, Australia;
  • Syme, G.J. (2003). People and Dams. Keynote Address, 43rd ANCOLD Conference, 24-29th October 2003, Hobart, Tasmania. ANCOLD Bulletin, Issue No. 125, December 2003, Australian National Committee on Large Dams, pp13-20. Reprinted In: Engineering World, April/May 2004, Institution of Engineers Australia;
  • Nancarrow, B.E. and Syme, G.J. (2004). Fairness Principles In Allocating Water: Integrating Views Of Different Agents;
  • In Pahl, C., Schmidt, S. and Jakeman, T. (eds) iEMSs 2004 International Congress: "Complexity and Integrated Resources Management". International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, 14-17 June 2004, Osnabrück Germany;
  • Syme, G.J. (2004). Solving problems in CSIRO: recent alternatives to disciplinary approaches. LWA Integration Symposium, 5-6 May 2004, Canberra, Australia. Moran, C., Syme, G., Hatfield Dodds, S., Porter, N., Kington, E. and Bates, L. (2004). On Defining and Measuring the Benefits from Water. 2nd IWA Leading-Edge Conference on Sustainability: Sustainability in Water Limited Environments - LES2004, 8-10 November 2004, Sydney, Australia;
  • Nancarrow, B.E. & Syme, G.J. (2006). Social aspects of gaining acceptance of alternative urban water supplies Sustainable Water in the Urban Environment II Conference – 2006, 19-21 June 2006, Sunshine Coast University, Queensland, Australia.