Future Regions Lab

Regions are crucial and complex units; a respective region emerging from a distinct interplay of geographic, economic, political, cultural and ecological factors.

The regional unit is useful in denoting governance or administrative jurisdictions, understanding cultural identity, economic and urban planning and development, resource management and care, and enabling collaboration and cooperation.

The Future Regions Lab adopts a broad interpretation of regions, specialising in both regional Australia, Australia’s regions (which may include cities) and regions in the Asia-Pacific. It seeks to understand inequality within and between these regions, with attention to industry, communities or groups in the socio-economic or geographic periphery.

The Future Regions Lab has two aims:

  1. To understand the contemporary challenges and characteristics of regions, particularly against the backdrop of global market restructuring, growing socio-economic inequity and disadvantage, urbanisation and population pressures, and ecological crises
  2. To provide evidence-based findings to inform regional strategic decision-making and policy strengthening sustainable industry and community futures

The Future Regions Lab focuses on the following research and policy areas:

  • Technology advancements and innovation to improve labour productivity, business opportunities, industrial transitions and the attractiveness of living in a specific region
  • Industry and business opportunities, challenges and responses to recent global shocks reconfiguring trade and production relationships
  • Ecological crises and the shift toward the greening of and resource efficiency in industry and urban areas
  • Urban and regional structural inequality and disadvantage in vulnerable socio-economic communities to strengthen sustainable development outcomes and goals

Projects

SustainaMineForward

Innovation in the peripheries

Rails to prosperity

PassionateGrowth: Rural economic diversification, local production and entrepreneurship

Beyond borders: Understanding globalisation and regional economies

Structural inequality, employment targets and planning policy

EcoCrisisResponse

Dangerous work and labour advice networks

Future@Work

Our team

PhD students

Contact Kirsten Martinus

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Research Repository

Read more about Associate Professor Kirsten Martinus

Research Repository