Congratulations on the Launch of QUT’s New Centre for Environment and Society

On 8 October 2025, the launch of the Centre for Environment and Society marked a significant milestone for QUT and for our lab’s ongoing commitment to linking science, communication, and impact.

The Centre’s Director, and our lab leader, Professor Jonathan Rhodes, highlighted that the Centre aims to “connect people from across disciplines to tackle complex environmental challenges in ways that are socially just and ecologically sound”. The Centre is already delivering tangible impact through multidisciplinary projects and will serve as a platform to bring together researchers, industry, government, and communities to co-develop research that responds directly to the needs of both people and ecosystems. Read more about Jonathan’s vision about the Centre here.

As part of this new Centre, the Global Conservation and Sustainability (GCS) Lab shares this vision and is excited about the opportunities it brings for collaboration, innovation, and impact. Dr Jaramar Villarreal-Rosas, who attended the launch, reflected on what the Centre means for her research and for the lab:

I am thrilled to be part of the new Centre for Environment and Society. For over 12 years, my research has focused on the intersection of ecology and social science — a space that has often lacked institutional support. I am therefore especially proud to join this innovative centre, which champions interdisciplinary research and fosters collaboration across academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations. Together, we are advancing science that creates meaningful, real-world impact.

Jaramar also emphasised that the Centre will create new opportunities for PhD students and early- and mid-career researchers to engage with industry, government, and other sectors, equipping them with the experience and networks needed to address real-world environmental challenges.

Dr Frankie Cho, who also attended the launch, echoed this enthusiasm:

The Centre emphasises the strong interconnection between environmental research and the broader society, which strongly overlaps with the lab’s interest in understanding the implications of global conservation and sustainability issues.

Frankie added that the GCS Lab has “already taken strong advantage of the Centre’s initiatives” through multiple collaborative projects. The Centre, he said, will further support researchers to disseminate their findings and create real impact in society.

As a part of the new Centre, our Lab looks forward to contributing to its mission and to advancing our own: by tackling the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges through integrating interdisciplinary approach, and co-developing problem-oriented research questions with end-users.