Thomas Wanner

Dr Thomas Wanner

Senior Lecturer

School of Social Sciences

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am a Senior Lecturer in Development Studies within the School of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide; and the convenor of the Bachelor of International Development, and the Honours program for International Development. As a political economist/political ecologist, my main research interests include the human-nature relationship and socio-cultural change to move towards more ecologically sustainable and equitable economies and societies. I am also researching about teaching and learning in higher education with a particular focus on critical pedagogies, flexible learning and assessment, student as partners, and education for sustainability.

I welcome inquiries from Masters and PhD candidates interested in: Climate Change Governance at international and national levels; Forests and climate change adaptation; Gender and Development; International politics and Sustainable Development Goals; climate change and energy security; Education for Sustainability; Religion and Development; Development theories; Political ecology and Sustainability.

Email me if you need supervision.

  • Political economy of environment and development
  • Climate Change Governance
  • Climate change adaptation with a particular focus on the role of forests
  • Gender and Development
  • International development and Sustainable Development Goals
  • Education for Sustainability
  • Critical pedagogies
  • Flexible learning and assessment

I am chair of the Sustainability Education Research Group. Email me if you want to join.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2016 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2008 - 2015 Lecturer University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2001 - 2007 Lecturer A Flinders University
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award National Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning Universities Australia Australia -
    2023 Award School of Education Research Excellence Award - Interdisciplinary Team Award University of Adelaide Australia -
    2022 Award Faculty of Arts, Business, Laws and Economics, Award for Teaching Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia $6,000
    2021 Teaching Award Stephen Cole the Elder Award for Excellence in Teaching and Support for Learning University of Adelaide Australia $8000
    2016 Teaching Award Teaching Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia 2,000
    2016 Teaching Award Beacon Commendation for Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide Australia 3,000
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2011 Graduate Certificate in Online Learning (Higher Education) University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia
  • Research Interests

2024: Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics Interdisciplinary Research Grant: $10,000: Enhancing students' academic skills by embedding the use of generative AI into courses

2023: Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics: Teaching and Learning Grant: $10,000: Enhancing the first-year experience for DEVT 1001 Introduction to International Development.

2022: Higher Education Research and Development Society Australasia (HERDSA) Grant: $5000. Project: Enhancing the Effectiveness of Communities of Practice as Knowledge Sharing and Academic Development tool

2020: Higher Education Research and Development Society Australasia (HERDSA) Grant: $3600. Project: Personalising Student Experience and Learning through Personal Learning Plans: Understanding student approaches to learning.

2019: New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),  Government of Australia:  $88,500 for Vietnam Study Tour in 2020.

2018: New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant; DFAT, Government of Australia: $88,500 for Vietnam Study Tour in 2019.

2017: Australia-Vietnam Researcher Exchange Program; DFAT, Government of Australia: $10,000.

2017: Ecoversity Grant, University of Adelaide; Project: Academic Plane travel.

2017: Evaluating Small Group Discovery Experiences in the Faculty of Arts; University of Adelaide grant: $20,000

2016: Faculty Research Active Grant Scheme (FRAGS); Faculty of Arts, University of Adelaide: $5,000. Project: 'Australia's role in Carbon partnerships in Asia-Pacific region'. 

2014: Teaching Innovation Grant, University of Adelaide. Project: 'Developing Online Learning Modules'.

 

Courses taught at undergraduate level:

DEVT 1001 Introduction to International Development

DEVT 2004 Environment and Development (advanced level)

DEVT 2004EX Environment and Development (Online course)

DEVT 3007 Climate Change and Sustainable Development (advanced)

DEVT 3004EX Vietnam Study Tour: International Development in Practice

DEVT 3008 International Development Research Project (capstone)

DEVT 4006 Theories and Contested Concepts in International Development (Honours level)

Previously taught courses:

2010-2018:  Geographies of Globalisation (1st year)

2010-2019:   Governance & Sustainable Development (advanced)

2008-2018:   People & the Environment in the Asia-Pacific region (Master)

2008-2012:   Environmental Impact Assessment

                           

 

                    

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Co-Supervisor Will living standards improve if donor agencies prioritise TVET demand driven programs in developing countries over other education sector investments? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Simon John Fraser
    2023 Co-Supervisor Negotiating empowerment inside the Indigenous Rangers Program in the Lake Eyre Basin (Australia). Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Maria Cristina Enjuto Crespo
    2023 Co-Supervisor The Roles and Impacts of Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs) for Online Flexible Learning in Chinese Higher Education Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Yali Chen
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2022 Principal Supervisor The Role of Gender in Post-Disaster Recovery and Disaster Risk Governance in Nepal: Examining Links Between Women, Institutions and Capacity-Building Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Natasha Jane Mackintosh
    2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor State Power and Environmental NGOs in South Australia: Moving Towards a Sustainable Society? Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mrs Meagan Rosaghna Magnusson
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Sport and Livelihoods of Young People in Suva, Fiji: A Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Steven John Evanson
    2018 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Management of Climate-Stressed Wetlands to Create Climate Resilience of Bangladeshi Wetland Communities Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Syed Mohammad Aminur Rahman
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Nexus Between Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Regulatory Oversight in Ghana's Upstream Petroleum Industry Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Derrick Martin Adjei Sowa
    2016 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Mining, Power and Sustainable Development: Micro-Politics of Benefits Sharing in Ghana Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jerome Jeffison Yaw Ofori
    2016 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Democratic Decentralisation and Good Governance: The Political Economy of Procurement Reform in Decentralised Indonesia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mochamad Mustafa
    2016 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Grassroots Social Resistance Movements: The Influence of Conflict Narratives in Relation to Mining Policy Development in Australia and the United Kingdom Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Bridie Meyer-McLean
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Smallholder Farmers' Perceptions of Climate Change, Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Context of Multiple Factors in the Tigray region of Ethiopia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rahwa Gebremedhine Kidane
    2015 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Sustaining Off-Reserve Forests in Ghana: A Game-Theoretic Approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Emmanuel Otutei
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83133084
  • Email: thomas.wanner@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83133772
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Napier, floor 1
  • Org Unit: School of Social Sciences

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