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Centre for Regenerating Futures
Transdisciplinary research to address the impacts of human activity on the planet
How our research drives the pursuit of ecological justice
The Centre for Regenerating Futures takes a transformative approach to ecological justice. It draws on existing and emerging research strengths to generate research engagement and impact to support transdisciplinary collaboration between researchers who are committed to addressing Anthropocene challenges and decolonising knowledges.
Our research areas
We explore ways to mitigate, educate and support adaptation to socio-ecological challenges in the Anthropocene. We underpin our work on addressing Anthropocene challenges and decolonising knowledges and practices through our four research themes.
Socioecological nexus
Our transdisciplinary researchers promote a critical perspective on science-society relations, to address inequality and re-establish ecological integrity and social justice.
Decolonising knowledges and practices
Our researchers work to decolonise the presumed knowledge of settler-colonialism. Our research disrupts agendas and resists and transforms methodologies that entrench inequalities in societies.
Intergenerational learning for environmental justice
Our researchers respond to the contemporary challenges of how we educate, communicate and act in the face of global socio-ecological crises. We understand the importance of transformative approaches to re-learning relationship with Country in the pursuit of ecological justice.
Arts, activism and the Anthropocene
Our transdisciplinary artists and researchers use arts practices to illuminate Anthropocene challenges. We question power and stories of history to promote ways to think and act differently for planetary wellbeing.
Want to address challenges of our collective future?
Study a PhD in Deakin’s Faculty of Arts and Education to investigate society’s important questions.
About the centre
Hear from researchers in the Centre for Regenerating Futures on taking a transformative approach to intergenerational learning.
Our researchers
Steered by our co-directors, our centre supports transdisciplinary collaboration between researchers. Our researchers bring a range of disciplinary expertise based on decades of combined experience.
Peta J. White is an associate professor in science and environmental education in the School of Education. Her research focuses on science and biology education; sustainability, environmental and climate change education; and collaborative/activist methodologies and embodied research practice.
Jo Raphael is an associate professor in drama education in the School of Education. Her research is focused on interdisciplinary approaches to learning in and through the arts. It is influenced by principles of social justice, drawing on the transformative potential of collaborative, participatory and arts-based research methods.
Featured projects
We lead bold initiatives that seek solutions beyond traditional research and organisational boundaries. Our partnerships with government, community and industry allow us to deliver research with impact.
Enacting climate change education
This ARC-funded international project explores how school science can prepare young people for 21st century futures. The project translates science research and development into highly engaging, curriculum-informed teaching and learning sequences for primary and secondary school students in Australia, Finland and Taiwan.
Preventing water theft in the Murray-Darling Basin
This project looks at socio-economic, legal and political factors that enable the theft of fresh water in the Murray-Darling Basin. The expected outcomes of this ARC-funded project include new research strategies for water theft prevention, benefiting national security and community health by contributing to a sustainable and equitable water supply.
Our partnerships
We are committed to growing partnerships at Deakin and across the world. We build strong connections between centre members and with researchers from faculties and institutes at Deakin. Beyond that, our researchers and projects span government agencies, peak body organisations, industry councils and other universities. Our partners include:
- Nulungu Research Institute, University of Notre Dame
- The Centre for People, Place, and Planet, Edith Cowan University
- City of Greater Geelong
- Drama Victoria
- Climate Change Education Network.
Our publications
Take an in-depth look at our latest research, available in a variety of formats and publications. For a full list of publications visit the profile pages of our researchers.
- A post-capitalocentric critique of digital technology and environmental harm: new directions at the intersection of digital and green criminology, L Bedford, M Mann, R Walters, and M Foth
- Understanding pedagogies for climate change education through collaborative arts-based autoethnography, J Raphael, S Hannigan, and PJ White
- Climate criminals and the politics of bushfires, R Walters
- Attuning with more-than-human kin: experimenting with ways to de-privilege humans when refiguring education in uncertain futures, PJ White, J Raphael, S Hannigan and R Bellingham
- 'Why can't we be smart?' Exploring School Community partnerships through Decolonising Race Theory, A Fricker, N Moodie, and C Burgess
