Dr Jana Norman
School of Communication, Media and Journalism
College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities
Jana is an interdisciplinary environmental humanities researcher interested in the theory and practice of rethinking human-nature relations. Her work has appeared in journals such as the Annals of Leisure Research, Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, Continuum Journal of Media and Cultural Studies and Alternative Law Journal, as well as Saltbush Review, Sydney Review of Books and The Conversation.
Current publications include "The original ‘secret spot’ on the edge of the desert: negotiations and contestations of place at Cactus Beach SA" in the Annals of Leisure research, co-authored with Professor Emily Potter of Deakin University; and the collaboratively produced chapter “Saltfish: Ecologies of Creative Processes” (with Alessandro Antonello, Tully Barnett, Jennifer Eadie, Amy Matthews, Stephen Muecke and Stephen Zagala) in New Materialist Affirmations: Creative Research Interventions in Methods and Practice (edited by Anna Hickey-Moody, Suvi Pihkala, Gretchen Coombs and Marissa Willcox (Edinburgh University Press, 2025).
Jana’s book Posthuman Legal Subjectivity: Reimagining the human in the Anthropocene (Routledge 2021) was awarded the History and Theory Book Prize (Socio-Legal Studies Association, UK) and the Chris Beasley Prize for Gender and Sexuality Theory (Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender, University of Adelaide). In the book, Jana challenges bedrock assumptions about human exceptionalism underpinning western legal theory and practice and develops an alternative, more ecologically accountable approach to understanding human-nature relations at law.
Jana is currently working on a multispecies ethnography of the Australian native oyster. Her essay, “Thinking Multispecies Entanglement with Australia’s Subtidal Shadow Species, Ostrea angasi” was Highly Commended in the Inaugural Kay Schaffer Award administered by the International Australian Studies Association (2024).
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Adjunct Research Fellow | University of South Australia |
| 2023 - 2025 | Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Deakin University |
| 2022 - 2022 | Administrator | University of Adelaide |
| 2020 - 2021 | Assistant Policy Director | Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety |
| 2019 - 2019 | Industry Engaged Placement | University of Adelaide |
| 2019 - 2023 | Casual Lecturer and Tutor | University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Fellowship | Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship | Deakin University | Australia | - |
| 2022 | Award | Socio-Legal Studies Association Theory and History Book Prize | Sociolegal Studies Association | United Kingdom | - |
| 2021 | Award | Chris Beasley Prize for Gender and Sexuality Theory | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Achievement | Dean's Commendation for Thesis Excellence | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Scholarship | Zelling Gray Supplementary Scholarship | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - 2019 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 1989 - 1993 | Yale University | United States | Masters of Divinity |
| 1985 - 1989 | University of Florida | United States | Bachelor of Science |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - 2025 | Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Deakin University | Australia |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Forest and Nature Therapy Guide | Association of Nature Therapy Guides and Programs | United States |
| 2009 | Permaculture Design | Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute | Australia |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Norman, J. (2025). Review of "Reimagining urban nature: literary imaginaries for posthuman cities". Australian Journal Of Environmental Education, online(4), 1-3. |
| 2025 | Norman, J., & Potter, E. (2025). Original 'secret spot' on the edge of the desert: negotiations and contestations of place at Cactus Beach SA. Annals Of Leisure Research, online, 1-7. |
| 2024 | Norman, J., Potter, E., Harrop, L., Treagus, M., Black, P., & Muecke, S. (2024). Mapping Shadows of the Bight: a road trip residency. Continuum, 39(1), 23 pages. Scopus2 WoS1 |
| 2021 | Norman, J. (2021). An engraved invitation to consider human-earth relations: thinking non-dualism through the mining-based art of Lee Harrop. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, 12(1), 77-99. Scopus1 WoS2 |
| 2021 | Harrop, L., & Norman, J. (2021). Still lives: A beautiful science. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, 12(1), 69. |
| 2018 | Norman, J. (2018). Introducing the cosmic person: an ecocentric legal subject. Alternative Law Journal, 43(2), 126-130. Scopus3 WoS4 |
| 2018 | Norman, J. (2018). Public Nuisance Claims in Climate Change Litigation: How Useful Are They?. Property Law Review, 7(3), 195-202. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Norman, J. (2021). Posthuman legal subjectivity: reimagining the human in the Anthropocene. London: Routledge. DOI Scopus17 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Muecke, S., Eadie, J., Antonello, A., Barnett, T., Norman, J., Matthews, A., & Zagala, S. (2022). Saltfish: Ecologies of Creative Processes. In Source details - Title: New Materialist Affirmations: Creative Research Interventions in Methods and Practice (pp. 143-159). online: Sydney Review of Books. DOI |
| 2022 | Muecke, S., Eadie, J., Antonello, A., Barnett, T., Norman, J., Matthews, A., & Zagala, S. (2022). Saltfish: Ecologies of Creative Processes. In Source details - Title: New Materialist Affirmations: Creative Research Interventions in Methods and Practice (pp. 143-159). online: Sydney Review of Books. DOI |
| 2022 | Norman, J. (2022). Expanding the ideal Introduction. In POSTHUMAN LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY (pp. 1-+). ROUTLEDGE. |
| 2022 | Norman, J. (2022). The legal subject. In POSTHUMAN LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY (pp. 93-113). ROUTLEDGE. |
| 2022 | Norman, J. (2022). Law's role in the human-earth relationship. In POSTHUMAN LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY (pp. 62-92). ROUTLEDGE. |
| 2022 | Norman, J. (2022). Introducing the Cosmic Person. In POSTHUMAN LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY (pp. 114-156). ROUTLEDGE. |
| 2022 | Norman, J. (2022). Who must we become?. In POSTHUMAN LEGAL SUBJECTIVITY (pp. 157-167). ROUTLEDGE. |
| 2021 | Norman, J. (2021). Hybrid governance in areas of limited statehood Foreword. In R. H. Santini, A. Polese, & R. Kevlihan (Eds.), LIMITED STATEHOOD AND INFORMAL GOVERNANCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (pp. XII-XV). ROUTLEDGE. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Authors: Norman J. Title: Onto-ethical celestial navigation in the Anthropocene (a 10-point guide). Extent: ongoing. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Norman, J. (2013). Review of 'Grace at Table: Small spiritual solutions to large material problems, solving everything' by Donna Schaper. |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2023 | External Supervisor | Building Bridges: Domestic Violence, Culture, Religion, and the Law | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Mary Manickam |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | External Supervisor | Domestic violence, faith communities and secular law | University of Adelaide | - | Doctorate | - | M Manickam |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2022 | Board Member | Board of Directors | The Hut Community Centre | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Member | Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Cultural Studies Association of Australasia | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture ANZ | - |
| 2020 - 2022 | Member | Sociolegal Studies Association | - |
| 2017 - 2023 | Member | Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australasia | - |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Global Network for Human Rights and the Environment | - |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Shadow Places: an exhibition from field observations, Cactus Beach to Fowlers Bay | Public Community Engagement | The Goat Gallery, Natimuk Victoria | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | Provocations #4 | Public Community Engagement | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | LGBTQ Migrations: Life Story Narratives in the South Australian GLAM Sector Community Consultation | Public Community Engagement | University of Adelaide | - |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2025 | Editor-In-chief | Journal of Human Rights and the Environment | Journal of Human Rights and the Environment | United Kingdom |
| Date | Event Name | Event Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Transdisciplinary Environmental Humanities Roundtable | Workshop | Deakin University | Australia |
| 2025 - ongoing | ASLEC-ANZ Early Career Researcher Speaker Series 2025 | Symposium | Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture, Australia and New Zealand | - |
| 2025 - 2025 | Shadow Places: an exhibition from field observations, Cactus Beach to Fowlers Bay | Exhibition | The Goat Gallery, Natimuk Victoria | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Settler Ecologies: Law, Settler Colonialism and the More-than-Human | Workshop | University of Melbourne | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Speaking from the South | Conference | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2023 - ongoing | Cultural Studies Association of Australasia ‘Culture in Practice’ Conference | Conference | University of South Australia | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture (ANZ) and Association for the Study of Australian Literature ‘Recentring the Region’ Joint Conference | Conference | RMIT University | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | From Theory to Practice: Leveraging Feminist Approaches to Care at a Time of Crisis Symposium | Symposium | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | English, Creative Writing and Film Department Postgraduate Conference | Conference | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2022 - ongoing | English, Creative Writing and Film Department Postgraduate Conference | Conference | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Southern Waters Symposium | Symposium | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Southern Waters Symposium | Symposium | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Law and Love [In and Beyond Pandemic Times]: Images, Narratives, Histories, and Cultures Conference | Conference | University of the Sunshine Coast | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Law and Love [In and Beyond Pandemic Times]: Images, Narratives, Histories, and Cultures Conference | Conference | University of the Sunshine Coast | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Situations of Theory | Conference | Flinders University | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | English and Creative Writing Department Postgraduate Conference | Conference | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Publishing your thesis as a book | Seminars | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Currents, Flows and Pressure Points in Australian Literature | Symposium | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2019 - ongoing | Juris Apocalypse Now! Law in End Times Conference of the Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australasia | Conference | Southern Cross University | Australia |
| 2019 - ongoing | ORE CORE SCORE: The Role of Arts, Social Values and Science in Mining Conference | Conference | Charles Darwin University | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Dissents and Dispositions Conference of the Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australiasia | Conference | University of Melbourne | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Inspiring Earth Ethics: Linking Values and Action | Conference | Griffith University | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Everything is Connected Conference of The Greens Institute | Conference | Greens Institute | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Common Dreams 4 | Conference | Common Dreams Progressive Spirituality Network | Australia |
| Date | Engagement Type | Partner Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2019 | Research Contract | History Trust SA |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Multispecies encountering: field notes from thinking with native oysters | Transdisciplinary Environmental Humanities Roundtable | Deakin University | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Thinking with native oysters about filtering out instrumentalism and other settler-colonial infusions | Settler Ecologies: Law, Settler Colonialism and the More-than-Human Workshop | University of Melbourne | - |
| 2024 - ongoing | Multispecies encountering: Field notes from thinking with native oysters | ASLEC-ANZ Early Career Researcher Speaker Series 2025 | Australian Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture Australia New Zealand | - |
| 2023 - ongoing | Mapping Shadows of the Bight: a road trip residency | Culture in Practice Conference, Cultural Studies Association of Australasia | University of South Australia | - |
| 2023 - ongoing | Mapping Shadows of the Bight | Recentering the Region, Association for the Study of Literature, Environment and Culture ANZ and Association for the Study of Australian Literature Conference | RMIT University | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | "You'll Want to Live Here": fictocritical responses to SA Film Corp's 1974 promotional film for the West Lakes community development | English, Creative Writing, and Film Department Postgraduate Conference | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | Spectres of the Anthropocene | English, Creative Writing, and Film Postgraduate Conference | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | Earth care: "with" not "for" | From Theory to Practice: Leveraging Feminist Approaches to Care at a Time of Crisis Symposium, Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Waimea River flowing into Lake Eyre | Southern Waters Symposium | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Flowing waters: a conversation on writing rivers in southern lands | Southern Waters Symposium | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | How deep is your love? Responding to the call for consideration of images of post humanism, love of other beings, and ecological justice | Law and Love (In and Beyond Pandemic Times): Images, Narratives, Histories, and Culture Conference of the Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australasia | University of the Sunshine Coast | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Posthuman legal subjectivity: author meets reader panel | Law and Love (In and Beyond Pandemic Times): Images, Narratives, Histories, and Culture Conference of the Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australasia | University of the Sunshine Coast | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Provocative possibilities: the natural and social history museum as situation of co-becoming | Situations of Theory Conference | Flinders University | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Unfixing our position: onto-ethical celestial navigation in the Anthropocene | Provocations #3 Community Engagement Event, JM Coetzee Centre for Creative Practice | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Getting messy with museums: sample writing from the pooling project | English, Creative Writing, and Film Department Postgraduate Conference | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2021 - ongoing | Publishing your thesis as a book seminar | Publishing your thesis as a book Seminar | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2020 - ongoing | Curatorial praxis: La Niña and a moment of bloom in South Australia, 1974 | Currents, Flows and Pressure Points in Australian Literature: A Creative-Critical Symposium of Stories from the South | University of Adelaide | - |
| 2019 - ongoing | Mining myopias | Juris Apocalypse Now! Law in End Time Conference of the Law, Literature and Humanities Association of Australasia Association | Southern Cross University | - |
| 2019 - ongoing | Mining meaning when matter and meaning emerge together | ORE CORE SCORE: The Role of Arts, Social Values and Science in Mining Conference | Charles Darwin University | - |
| 2017 - ongoing | Introducing the Cosmic Person | Dissents and Dispositions Conference of the Law, Literature and the Humanities Association of Australasia | University of Melbourne | - |
| 2017 - ongoing | An ecocentric legal subject | Inspiring Earth Ethics: Linking Values and Action Conference of the Australian Earth Law Alliance | Griffith University | - |
| 2017 - ongoing | Ecozoic living: a better way to love the earth | Everything is Connected Conference of the Greens Institute | The Greens Institute | - |
| 2016 - ongoing | Progressive spirituality: reservoir for reinventing human being in the ecozoic era | Common Dreams 4 | Common Dreams Conference | - |
