Listening — picking up the signals

“The first duty of love is to listen.”
(Paul Tillich, German-American Theologian and Philosopher, 1886-1965)

This page details my research interests, selected global fieldwork and major completed international projects. My research development engagements entail editorial board memberships, invited peer reviewer activity for academic journals, and postgraduate research supervision. Selected encounters with individual interview respondents are documented on my weblog.

Poor people are particularly exposed to many impacts of climate change. Listening to their views and experiences can be the beginning of a mutually enlightening partnership for sustainable development. Listening is the beginning of learning. It enjoys a long and enduring legacy which writers and thinkers have highlighted over centuries: “Let the wise listen and add to their learning” (King Solomon, 1011-931 BC, Holy Bible Proverbs 1:5); “To listen well is as powerful a means of communication and influence as to talk well” (John Marshall, American Statesman and Chief Justice, 1755-1835); “Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking” (Bernard M. Baruch, American Economist and Presidential Advisor, 1870-1965); “A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something” (Wilson Mizner, American Playwright, 1876-1933). In the simplest of terms, research is careful listening. No listening, no learning. Listening is the beginning of wisdom.

RESEARCH INTERESTS    ▲

I am a social scientist with an interdisciplinary profile. My research typically aims to highlight key social issues for attention so that humans are in a better position to take appropriate action and avert or mitigate crises, prevent humanitarian-scale suffering, promote preparedness, reduce poverty, redress inequalities, foster social resilience and advance sustainable human development, environmental care and the planetary common good.

My multidisciplinary research interests include:

• Human behaviour • Holistic education • Human well-being research (“happiness”) • Social change, environmental change, climate change • Human rights, abortion, justice issues • Policy analysis and development • Global poverty reduction • Studies in human society • Theology of Earth care • Change management and social transformation • Human development, community development, sustainable development • Globalisation, intercultural competency • Leadership • Society, inequality, social class, interfaith, religion, ethics • Humanitarianism, emergency response, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness • Environmental sustainability • Community based climate change adaptation • Climate change induced forced human migration and disaster displacement • Climate change adaptation and mitigation • Transformation towards low-carbon global society • Interdisciplinary conceptual and empirical research • Science-faith and science-policy research • Research development initiatives •

I am open to supervise research projects for HDR and Honours students in these areas.

SELECTED MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS —
COMPLETED     ▲

My interdisciplinary research interests at the science-faith and science-policy interface have given rise to international research collaborations with seasoned academics and senior professors. This is a shortlist of selected high-impact global engagements.

• [2018-2021] Handbook of Climate Change Management—Research, Leadership, Transformation. Springer Nature, Switzerland. Johannes Luetz worked on this book for three years as one of three editors from Australia, Germany and Ethiopia. The role of JL involved recruiting, advising, and supporting more than 200 chapter lead authors as well as coordinating the peer review of invited reviewers and associate editors. Comprising more than 3,500 pages and more than 200 peer reviewed chapters by international experts, this Major Reference Work is part of Springer Nature’s Climate Change Management Series, the world’s leading peer-reviewed book series on matters related to climate change. Editor-in-Chief: Prof W. Leal Filho and co-editor Prof Y.A. Desalegn (project completing).
• [2018-2021] Beyond Belief—Opportunities for Faith-Engaged Approaches to Climate-Change Adaptation in the Pacific Islands. Springer Nature, Switzerland. (Co-edited with Prof Patrick D. Nunn). Peer reviewed edited book arising from international call for papers, including @Yale.edu; @Rokonadravu, among others (project completed).
• [2018-2021] Innovating Christian Education Research—Multidisciplinary Perspectives.Springer Nature, Singapore. (Co-edited with Prof Beth Green). Peer reviewed edited book arising from ACHEA Research Conference 2019 Reason and Relevance. Johannes Luetz chaired the organising committee (7 members) of this biennial Australian Christian Higher Education Alliance (ACHEA) Research Conference (50 contributions; 40+ institutions; 70+ delegates) and coordinated the publication of this peer reviewed edited volume (project completed).
• [2017-2020] Quality Education is Vol. 4 of the peer reviewed multivolume edited Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals—Transforming the World We Want, the largest editorial project on sustainable development ever undertaken, and the world’s most comprehensive publication on the United Nations SDGs. Comprising 17 volumes and 1,700 book chapters, the encyclopedia is part of Springer Nature’s award-winning World Sustainability Series. It comprehensively addresses the UN SDGs in an integrated way. Each of the 17 volumes is devoted to one of the 17 SDGs. Vol. 4 Quality Education addresses SDG 4: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Johannes Luetz is one of seven Section Editors who worked on the book for three years, coordinating the peer review of different sections and recruiting and supporting chapter authors from national and international collaborating universities (project completed).
• [2016-2018] Reimagining Christian Education—Cultivating Transformative Approaches. Springer Nature, Singapore. (Co-edited with Dr Tony Dowden and Dr Bev Norsworthy). Peer reviewed edited book arising from 2016 national research symposium Learning and Loves—Reimagining Christian Education with Dr James K. A. Smith and 40 authors and more than 80 delegates. Johannes Luetz chaired the organising committee (8 members) and led the publication of this peer reviewed edited book as Editor-in-Chief.
• [2007-2014] Consulted for World Vision International on high-level global research and advocacy projects and collaborated on humanitarian Ph.D. as Research Associate. Conducted field research in Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Cambodia and published major global report Planet Prepare: Preparing Coastal Communities in Asia for Future Catastrophes (124 pp.) (WorldCat). Engaged the press at media launches in Bangkok, Thailand (18 Sep 2008) and Singapore (19 Sep 2008) [press release, executive summary and media friendly summary in English and in German: Interview mit dem Autor (6:23 Min), Interview-Skript, Pressemitteilung und Zusammenfassung.] Published five ‘Disaster Monitor’ country fact sheets featuring Bangladesh, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Indonesia (8 pp. each).
  
  Edited and published three climate change reports with global reach (32–48 pp. each) as series editor for World Vision Australia to support advocacy during United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meetings in 2009 [Report 1: Food and Water Security; Report 2: Disaster Risk Reduction; Report 3: The Vulnerability of Children]. Presented research at international humanitarian fora as invited keynote speaker [Integrated Ministry Quality Forum Bangkok, Thailand 11–15 Aug 2008; Multi Emergency Learning Event Bangkok, Thailand 11–12 Feb 2010]. Delivered research presentations as invited speaker [Global Relief Forum Ottawa, Canada 5–11 May 2010; Global Resilience Forum London, UK 5–9 Sep 2011].
  
  Conducted early warning assessment Turning Information into Action as lead consultant (2014). This technical review of World Vision’s Early Warning Early Action System (EWEAS) evaluated the implementation of EWEAS after 18 months of field testing in 13 countries in the East and Southern Africa region following the 2011 Horn of Africa food crisis. An updated version of this assessment was published as a peer reviewed pilot study in Handbook of Climate Change Management—Research, Leadership, Transformation in Springer Nature’s Climate Change Management Series, the world’s leading peer-reviewed book series on matters related to climate change.

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL FIELDWORK
AND INTERNSHIPS     ▲

• Philippines • Manila/Luzon (8–15 Jan 2012); Cagayan de Oro/Mindanao (15–20 Jan); Manila (20–22 Jan): Typhoon induced displacement and resettlement related Ph.D. field research. (Reflections on this research by Chris Pforr)
• Singapore • (6 Jan 2012): Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Ph.D. research visit and expert interview on GIS mapping and disaster induced displacement.
• Maldives • Malé (19–24 Dec 2011); Hanimaadhoo (24 Dec 2011–1 Jan 2012); Malé/Hulhumalé (1–3 Jan): Ph.D. field research into climate change and non-climate change related human migration and resettlement. (The Guardian video; Springer Nature publication)
• Sri Lanka • Colombo (19 Dec 2011): Scoping visit to explore existing Maldives-Sri Lanka migration links.
• India • Kolkata (8–11 Dec 2011); Basanti/Sundarbans (12–13 Dec); Kolkata (14 Dec); Chennai (15–19 Dec): Ph.D. field research engaging Kolkata street dwellers; cyclone related rural-urban migration from Sundarbans areas following Cyclone Aila (2009); Chennai slum clearance and tenement housing development.
• Bangladesh • Dhaka (27 Nov 2011); Bhola Island (28–30 Nov); Chittagong (1–3 Dec); Dhaka (4–8 Dec): Ph.D. field research into migration push / pull factors (distinguishing between environment and/or climate related issues and non-environment and/or non-climate related issues) with a view to informing relevant stakeholders of the perspectives, experiences, felt needs, aspirations and preferred solutions of forced migrant communities. (UNSW-TV video; Springer Nature publication)
• Bolivia • Santa Cruz (24 Nov–5 Dec 2010); Camiri / Chaco communities (6–18 Dec); Santa Cruz (19 Dec 2010–6 Jan 2011); La Paz (7–12 Jan); Santa Cruz (13–20 Jan): Ph.D. field research into drought induced / enhanced forced rural-urban migration (UNSW-TV video)
• Papua New Guinea / Bougainville • Port Moresby (20–22 Oct 2010); Buka (23–25 Oct); Carteret Atoll (26–28 Oct); Buka/Tinputz/Maran Village (28–30 Oct); Nissan Atoll (31 Oct–3 Nov); Buka (4–5 Nov); Port Moresby (6 Nov): Ph.D. research (pilot study) into climate/ environment and non-climate/ non-environment related migration push factors. (Associated arising publications: Springer Nature; https://www.fmreview.org/ethics/luetz; (Arabic); Podcast: MP3 Download)
• Bolivia • Santa Cruz, La Paz (14 Dec 2009–12 Jan 2010): Ph.D. field research scoping visit into drought induced / enhanced forced rural-urban migration (UNSW-TV video)
• Maldives • (May 2009): Self-funded Ph.D. research scoping visit conducted in conjunction with NGO Bluepeace Maldives to explore tsunami induced displacement from the Island of Kandholudhoo to Dhuvaafaru following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (Bluepeace Maldives guest article)
• Cambodia • Phnom Penh (8–13 Jul 2008): Disaster report related field work into microfinance and microinsurance mechanisms for enhanced disaster preparedness.
• Bangladesh • Dhaka (19–20 Apr 2008); Bhola Island (21–22 Apr); Khulna/Sundarbans (23 Apr); Morrelganj (24 Apr); Dhaka (25–26 Apr): Disaster preparedness related field research after Cyclone Sidr (2007). (World Vision Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2008; Disaster Monitor Bangladesh fact sheet)
• Papua New Guinea / Bougainville • Port Moresby (12–13 Mar 2008); Buka (13–18 Mar); Lae (18–20 Mar); Port Moresby (20–21 Mar): Disaster report related field research. (World Vision Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2008; Disaster Monitor PNG fact sheet)
• Indonesia • Jakarta (13 Jan 2008); Aceh (14–16 Jan), Jakarta (17–19 Jan): Disaster report related field research. (World Vision Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2008; Disaster Monitor Indonesia fact sheet)
• Singapore • (28 Nov 2007–23 Sep 2008): World Vision International regional communications advisor for Asia Pacific. (World Vision Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2008; Planet Prepare report launch events in Bangkok, Singapore and Germany (18/19 Sep 2008). World Vision International Press Releases: English; German; Interview/Podcast)
• Philippines • (Feb–Mar 2006): World Vision emergency aid distribution to survivors of Leyte landslide in St. Bernard with more than 1,000 casualties. Documentation and media coverage of relief operations. (Disaster Monitor Philippines fact sheet; Springer Nature peer reviewed publication Disaster-Resistant Schools for Disaster-Resilient Education)
• Singapore • (23 Jan–7 Apr 2006): World Vision MBA corporate internship: Developed donor retention and acquisition strategy. Promoted donor care, child sponsorship (excerpted from my book on poverty reduction) and disaster relief communications.
• South Africa • (Sep–Dec 1998): Completed 12-week Leadership Training School (LTS) module with focus on pioneering non-profit ventures in Africa at University of the Nations (UOFN) training base in Worcester. This field-based trilingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese) LTS focussed on equipping non-Western background leaders in areas of pioneering leadership, management, communication, organisation, and social development.
• Estonia • (Apr–Jun 1996): Completed University of the Nations (UOFN) Youth Leaders Training School (YLTS) field placement, promoting reconciliation and development initiatives through social services in the wake of the country’s recent independence.
• Sierra Leone, West Africa • (Oct 1994–Jan 1995): German Government Civilian Servant secondment to the European Baptist Mission (EBM). This youth leadership development programme was offered in conjunction with the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) to advance youth work in the context of building civil war tensions.
• Costa Rica • (Dec 1993–Mar 1994): Completed Youth With A Mission (YWAM) social services field assignment training in Heredia / San José, and Turrialba. Studied Spanish in Costa Rican host family.

Research Development

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIPS — CURRENT     ▲

I am Deputy Editor at the International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management (IJCCSM) [Emerald OA journal] and Member of the Editorial Board at Discover Sustainability [Springer Nature OA journal].

My editorial responsibilities involve handling submissions, recruiting peer reviewers in relevant areas of expertise and processing scientific papers through the various peer review cycles through to acceptance and publication, major revision, minor revision, or rejection.

INVITED PEER REVIEWER ACTIVITY —
SELECTED ACADEMIC JOURNALS     ▲

I am regularly invited by scientific journals to review research paper submissions. This is a selection of verified recent peer reviewer activity (‘community service’).

• Environmental Science & Policy (ScienceDirect/Elsevier)
• Migration Studies (Oxford Academic)
• International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology (Taylor & Francis)
• Climate and Development (Taylor & Francis)
• Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences (Springer Nature)
• Sustainability (MDPI) • (Reviewer Certificate)
• International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction (Elsevier)
• Territory, Politics, Governance (Taylor & Francis)
• International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (Emerald)
• Urban Planning (Cogitatio)

RESEARCH SUPERVISION

I am currently supervising postgraduate research at AQF Levels 9 (Master) and 10 (Ph.D.).

I am open to supervise research projects for HDR and Honours students that align with my research interests.