Associate Professor Paul Brown
Honorary Associate Professor

Associate Professor Paul Brown

M.Sci.Soc (UNSW) 1993 History and Philosophy of Science, Science and Society, Science Communication, Environment

PhD (UNSW) 1980 Geology, Geochemistry

B.Appl.Sci (First Class Honours) (UNSW) 1973 Earth Sciences, Higher Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Philosophy, Statistics

Arts,Design & Architecture
School of Humanities & Languages

Author, Producer, Researcher, Manager, Educator, Consultant

Associate Professor Paul Brown is an educationalist, researcher, community artist and creative producer. For over thirty years he has successfully integrated university research, teaching and leadership with arts practice, community engagement and consultancy – across humanities, environment, science and community development fields.

Environmental issues, theatre and film production, communications and community engagement are central to his practitioner and academic interests. He has published in fields of environmental humanities, eco-criticism, creative arts practice, conservation and sustainability, atomic arts, earth history, and science and technology studies. His recent practice-based research includes an oral history and performance project on South Asian development issues, a major international arts program linking creative artists with communities that have experienced nuclear testing, and environmental education initiatives in Australia, India and Bangladesh.

In academia, Paul was first appointed to UNSW in 1994 as lecturer in Environmental Policy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. He developed and taught across a wide range of courses, and played a co-ordinating role in the Environmental Studies Program for the Faculty until 2007, when he was appointed foundational Head of the School of History and Philosophy (later school of Humanities and now School of Humanities and Languages). He held this senior management and leadership position for five years 2007-12, responsible for over fifty academic staff and eight professional staff. Throughout his UNSW career, Paul has taken key roles in curriculum development, and helped lead developments in on-line teaching, both in his own courses and across the School of Humanities while Head of School. He has substantial teaching experience within the Masters of Environmental Management (MEM), and has been a key contributor to interdisciplinary activities through the Institute of Environmental Studies at UNSW. Paul now holds a position in the School of Humanities and Languages, and is consultant for a current Scientia Education Investment Fund development project at UNSW, with focus on on-line teaching development for the Masters of Environmental Management. Since 2017, he has taught four courses within the MEM, and was the convenor of that program in 2018.

As a creative writer and producer, mostly of plays and films, Paul is the author of Aftershocks, verbatim theatre about the Newcastle earthquake. He co-founded Urban Theatre Projects in 1980, and wrote major community theatre works for Murray River Performing Group, Theatreworks, and Urban Theatre Projects. Paul is the author of the documentary film Sixty Thousand Barrels, and of the verbatim play Half a Life, which documents the experience of veterans who served at the British Nuclear Testing ground at Maralinga. In 2014-18 he was the Creative Producer for the Nuclear Futures creative partnerships initiative, linking artists with atomic survivor communities to make creative works across 22 community-based multi-arts projects. Highlights include the production and gifting of Australia's sculpture in the Nagasaki Peace Park, and the digital projections 10 Minutes to Midnight, and Ngurini (Searching) two multi-media installations.

Location
Morven Brown
  • Books | 2012
    Merson J, 2012, Conservation in a Crowded World: Case studies from the Asia-Pacific, Merson J; Brown PF; Cooney R, (eds.), Original, UNSW Press, Sydney
    Books | 2004
    Brown PF; Mills D, 2004, Art and wellbeing, 10, Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney, Australia
  • Book Chapters | 2013
    Arvanitakis J; Brown PF, 2013, 'Scarce Water and the Australian Progress Trap: a commentary', in Badyopadhay DN; Francis R (ed.), Remapping the Future: History, Culture and Environment in Australia and India, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle Upon Tyne
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Merson J; Cooney R; Brown PF, 2012, 'Conclusions', in Merson J; Cooney R; Brown P (ed.), Conservation in a Crowded World: Case studies from the Asia-Pacific, edn. Original, UNSW Press, Sydney, pp. 316 - 323
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Merson J; Cooney R; Brown PF, 2012, 'Introduction', in Merson J; Cooney R; Brown P (ed.), Conservation in a Crowded World: Case studies from the Asia-Pacific, edn. Original, UNSW Press, Sydney, pp. 2 - 11
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Brown PF; Wake C, 2010, 'The Future of Verbatim Theatre: Truthfulness in a New Era', in Brown P (ed.), Verbatim: Staging Memory and Community, edn. Original, Currency Press, Strawberry Hills, Sydney, pp. 18 - 21
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Brown PF, 2008, 'Knowledge, Power and Cultural Policy: social understanding through community cultural development', in Making Money Making Meaning: Directions for the Arts and Cultural Industries in the Creative Age, edn. Original, Cambridge Scholars
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Brown PF, 2006, 'Maralinga: Theatre from a Place of War', in Unstable Ground: Performance and the Politics of Place, edn. 1, PIE Peter Lang, Brusseles, pp. 205 - 226
    Book Chapters | 2002
    Brown PF, 2002, 'The ratbag of Botany: Activism and community participation around industrial sites in south-eastern Sydney', in McPhillips K (ed.), LOCAL HEROES: Australian Crusades from the Environmental Frontline, edn. 1, Pluto Press, Sydney, Australia, pp. 110 - 128
    Book Chapters | 2001
    Brown PF, 2001, 'Introduction', in After Shock, edn. 1, Currency Press, Strawberry Hills, Australia, pp. 7 - 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10304319009388144
  • Journal articles | 2018
    Brown P, 2018, 'Rebellious art: pushing back against the nuclear state', Unlikely: journal for creative arts, http://unlikely.net.au/issue-05/rebellious-art
    Journal articles | 2014
    Barnes R; Ashbolt N; Roser D; Brown P, 2014, 'Implementing sustainable water and sanitation projects in rural, developing communities', Waterlines, vol. 33, pp. 71 - 88, http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.2014.008
    Journal articles | 2014
    Brown P, 2014, 'Ecological knowledge in community theater', CLCWeb - Comparative Literature and Culture, vol. 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.2584
    Journal articles | 2014
    Brown P, 2014, 'Environmental ethics: Potent foundational knowledge or inert scholarship?', Metascience, vol. 23, pp. 131 - 136, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11016-013-9817-z
    Journal articles | 2014
    Davison A; Brown P; Pharo E; Warr K; McGregor H; Terkes S; Boyd D; Abuodha P, 2014, 'Distributed leadership: Building capacity for interdisciplinary climate change teaching at four universities', International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 15, pp. 98 - 110, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-10-2012-0091
    Journal articles | 2013
    Pharo EA; Davison A; Mcgregor HV; Warr K; Brown PF, 2013, 'Using communities of practice to enhance interdisciplinary teaching: Lessons from four Australian institutions', Higher Education Research and Development, vol. 33, pp. 341 - 354, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2013.832168
    Journal articles | 2011
    Barnes R; Roser D; Brown PF, 2011, 'Critical evaluation of planning frameworks for rural water and sanitation development projects', Development in Practice, vol. 21, pp. 168 - 189, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2011.543269
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown P, 2009, 'Toxic waste in our midst: Towards an interdisciplinary analysis', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 1559 - 1566, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.022
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown P; Benn S, 2009, 'Toxic risk and governance: The case of hexachlorobenzene', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 1557 - 1558, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.010
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF, 2009, 'Technoaesthetics and the nuclear uncanny', Metascience, vol. 18, pp. 223 - 232, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11016-009-9265-y
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF, 2009, 'Theatre, ecological sanity, and finding Baz Kershaw', Performance Paradigm, vol. 2009
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF, 2009, 'Toxic Waste in our Midst: towards an interdisciplinary analysis', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. Online, pp. 1 - 8
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF; Benn S; North-Samardzic A, 2009, 'A commentary on decision-making and organisational legitimacy in the Risk Society', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 1655 - 1662, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.021
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF; Hillier N; Gennissen J; Smolenski R; Smolenski B, 2009, 'Our battle with hexachlorobenzene: Citizen perspectives on toxic waste in Botany', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. Online, pp. 1 - 8
    Journal articles | 2009
    Brown PF; Rae I, 2009, 'Managing the intractable: Communicative structures for management of hexachlorobenzene and other Scheduled Wastes', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. Online, pp. 1 - 10
    Journal articles | 2009
    Hillier (OAM) N; Gennissen J; Pickering B; Smolenski R; with an introduction by Paul Brown , 2009, 'Our battle with hexachlorobenzene: Citizen perspectives on toxic waste in Botany', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 1605 - 1612, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.015
    Journal articles | 2009
    Rae I; Brown P, 2009, 'Managing the intractable: Communicative structures for management of hexachlorobenzene and other scheduled wastes', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 90, pp. 1583 - 1592, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.05.013
    Journal articles | 2008
    Brown PF; Benn S, 2008, 'Toxic Risk and Governance: the case of hexachlorobenzene', Journal of Environmental Management, pp. 1 - 2
    Journal articles | 2007
    Brown PF; Crittenden X, 2007, 'Nature Moves Centre Stage: Eco-Centrism in Community Theatre', About Performance, vol. 7, pp. 99 - 116
    Journal articles | 2006
    Brown PF, 2006, 'British Nuclear Testing in Australia: Performing the Maralinga Experiment through Verbatim Theatre', Journal and Proceedings of Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 139 pts1&2, pp. 39 - 50
  • Other | 2013
    Brown P, 2013, Reigning the River: Urban Ecologies and Political Transformation in Kathmandu, ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2013.794508
    Conference Papers | 2013
    Brown PF; Hudson A; Barkley E; Arvanitakis J, 2013, 'Arts and the deep nuclear future: a prospectus', in Arts and the deep nuclear future: a prospectus, Arts and Ecology Conference, Wollongong, University of Wollongong, presented at Arts and Ecology Conference, Wollongong, University of Wollongong, 12 May 2013 - 13 May 2013
    Performances (Music, Theatre, Dance) | 2006
    Brown PF, 2006, Publication: Half a Life: Verbatim Theatre about British Nuclear Testing, 2006, Performances (Music, Theatre, Dance), http://www.artsconnect.com.au/artnews/0906_maralinga.htm, http://www.artsconnect.com.au/artnews/0906_maralinga.htm
    Performances (Music, Theatre, Dance) | 2004
    Brown PF, 2004, Publication: Room 207 Nikola Tesla, 2004, Performances (Music, Theatre, Dance), http://www.library.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/32436/WEBCT.pdf, http://www.library.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/32436/WEBCT.pdf
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2003
    Brown PF, 2003, Sixty Thousand Barrels, SBS, Sydney, Editor(s): Alphaville Productions , Video, Published: 2003, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works, http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/27853974?versionId=46531503
    Conference Proceedings (Editor of) | 2000
    Brown PF, (ed.), 2000, 'Stories, writing and publishing for cultural action', Sydney, presented at Stories, writing and publishing for cultural action, Sydney, 01 September 2000
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2000
    Brown PF; Russell JE; Ford A, 2000, Ten Million Wild Cats, Video, Published: 2000, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 1998
    Brown PF, 1998, Aftershocks, Video, Published: 1998, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works

Significant Awards

Society for the Social Studies of Science award for communication and community engagement ('Making and Doing'): Nuclear (2018)

Graham F Smith Peace Foundation Award: Tree of Life Gift of Peace. Australia's sculpture in the Nagasaki Peace Park. (2016)

Australasian Association of Philosophy Award: The Retrial of Galileo: documentary film. (2010)

Australian Writers Guild Award: Best Screenplay Adaptation: Aftershocks. (1998)

Australia Council for the Arts: Community Writers Fellowship (1991)

 

Across the period 2019-2021 I will conduct three areas of research:

1. The knowledge-making potential for the creative arts, with focus on documentary theatre forms, including 'verbatim' theatre that explores environmental themes.

2. Environmental education and pedagogy, with focus on emerging blended learning approaches for postgraduate environmental coursework.

3. Ways to reimagine earth sciences (including via the creative arts) in an era of environmental crisis. 

My related creative arts practice will include development of community-based documentary plays, films and digital projections.

My Research Supervision

Currently I am supervising students whose projects are concerned with impacts of coal mining, and/or the relationship between environmental issues and the creative arts.

My Teaching

Since 1994 I have taught across undergraduate and postgraduate environmental courses that are interdisciplinary and based on a high degree of interactivity in the classroom. My key areas of teaching are Waste and Society, Environmental Controversy, Public Participation and Environmental Policy. Most recently I have been teaching within the Master of Environmental Management Program at UNSW. My MEM courses have included Addressing Environmental Issues; Tools for Environmental Management; Environmental Policy; and fundamental knowledge courses in Social Sciences and Physical Sciences. I have also supervised students in Internships and research projects within the MEM.