Skip to content
Curtin University
Humanities

Staff Profiles

[Log in to edit profiles]

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

Prof George Curry

Image of Staff Member
    • Role:
    • Professor of Geography
    • Department:
    • Department of Social Sciences
    • Location:
    • Humanities 331
    • Telephone:
    • +61 8 9266 3310

George is Professor of Geography in the Department of Social Sciences and Asian Languages at Curtin University. He completed his PhD in Geography at the University of New England in 1992. He teaches in the areas of Development Studies, rural geography and research methods.

Most of his recent research has been in Papua New Guinea examining socio-cultural and economic change associated with the transition to a market economy. Much of George’s research at the village or community level often involving extended periods of fieldwork. He uses a sustainable livelihoods approach to investigate how export cash cropping and labour migration are accommodated within quasi-subsistence economies where indigenous relations of production and exchange and communal land tenure are still extant. Currently, he has research projects in smallholder cocoa, coffee, oil palm and subsistence food production.

Research Projects

Funded research and consultancy programmes since 2003:

 

Curry, G.N. and Webb, M. (2010-2013). Improving Livelihoods of Smallholder Families through Increased Productivity of Coffee-based Farming Systems in the Highlands of PNG. Joint project with Curtin, CSIRO, PNG Coffee Industry Corporation and PNG National Agricultural Research Institute.  (ACIAR).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2009).  Technical Assessment of Cocoa for Productive Partnerships in Agriculture Project (PPAP) Project Design Consultancy. (URS funded by World Bank).

 

Curry, G.N. and Omuru, E. (2008-2009). Socio-economic Impact Assessment of Cocoa Pod Borer in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea.  (ACIAR).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2008-2011). Commercial sector/smallholder partnerships for improving incomes in the oil palm and cocoa industries in Papua New Guinea. (ACIAR).

 

Curry, G.N. & Jones, R. (2007-2008). Cultural Capital and Rural Change on the South Coast of Western Australia.  (IRG).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2006). Social Assessment of the Smallholder Agriculture Development project (World Bank).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2005-2008). Contested Landscapes and Divided Communities: the Struggle for Place and Belonging in Papua New Guinea (ARC Discovery Project Grant).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2005-2006). Socio-economic evaluation of the utilisation of marine resources in the Kimbe Bay region of West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea (The Nature Conservancy).

 

Curry, G.N. Koczberski, G. & Earnest, J. (2004). From Divided to Cohesive Communities: Strategies for Promoting Social Inclusiveness in the Asia-Pacific Region (Internal Research Grant – Liveable Communities Funding Initiative).

 

Curry, G.N. & Koczberski, G. (2003-2007). Improving Productivity and the Participation of Youth and Women in the Papua New Guinea Cocoa, Coconut and Oil Palm Industries (ACIAR).

 

Some of George's publications from the above projects are available at the following website:

 

http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au/R/?func=search-advanced-go&LOCAL_BASE=GEN01-ERA02&find_code1=WCR&request1=Curry,%20George

 

Memberships

Publications

Books (Authored, Research)

  • Berthelsen, S, Nelson, P, Yinil, D, Fidelis, C, Webb, M, and Curry, G. 2011. Nutritional status of cocoa in Papua New Guinea. Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia.
  • Lummani, J, Curry, G, and Omuru, E. 2011. Socioeconomic impact assessment of cocoa pod borer in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia.
  • Curry, G, Nailina, R, Omuru, E, and Koczberski, G. 2007. Farming or Foraging? Household Labour and Livelihood Strategies Amongst Smallholder Cocoa Growers in Papua New Guinea. Perth, Western Australia: Black Swan Press.

Book Chapters (Authored, Research Quality)

  • Koczberski, G, and Curry, G. 2007. Seeds of discontent: oil palm and the changing production strategies among smallholders in Papua New Guinea. In Environment, Development and Change in Rural Asia-Paicif: Between local and global, eds John Connell and Eric Waddell, 108-126. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Curry, G. 2007. Doing 'business' in Papua New Guinea: the social embeddedness of small business enterprises. In International Handbook of Research on Indigenous Entrepreneurship, eds Leo-Paul Dana and Robert B Anderson, 470-484. United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Refereed Articles (Scholarly Journals)

  • Nelson, P, Webb, M, Curry, G, and Rogers, G. 2011. Site-specific fertilizer recommendations for oil palm smallholders using information from large plantations. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 174(2): 311-320.
  • Curry, G, Koczberski, G, and Imbun, B. 2009. Property rights for social inclusion: Migrant strategies for securing land and livelihoods in Papua New Guinea. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 50(1): 29-42.
  • Koczberski, G, and Curry, G. 2009. Finding Common Ground: relational concepts of land tenure and economy in the oil palm frontier of Papua New Guinea. The Geographical Journal 175(2): 98-112.
  • Jones, R, Fold, N, and Curry, G. 2008. Cashing in on resources, social and cultural capital: the role of local markets in the Great Southern district of Western Australia. Prairie Perspectives: Geographical Essays 11: 173-193.
  • Koczberski, G, and Curry, G. 2005. Making a living: Land pressures and changing livelihood strategies among oil palm settlers in Papua New Guinea. Agricultural Systems 85: 324-339.
  • Curry, G. 2005. Doing "Business" in Papua New Guinea: The Social Embeddedness of Small Business Enterprises. Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship 18: 231-246.
  • Curry, G. 2005. Reluctant Subjects or Passive Resistance? A commentary on J K Gibson-Graham's "Surplus possibilities: Postdevelopment and community economies". Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography 26: 127-131.
  • Curry, G, and Koczberski, G. 2004. Divided communities and contested landscapes: Mobility, development and shifting identities in migrant destination sites in Papua New Guinea. Asia Pacific Viewpoint 45: 357-371.
  • Curry, G. 2003. Moving Beyond Postdevelopment: Facilitating Indigenous Alternatives for "Development". Economic Geography 79(4): 405-424.
  • Curry, G, Selwood, J, and Koczberski, G. 2001. Cashing Out, Cashing In: rural change on the south coast of Western Australia. Australian Geographer 32: 109-124.

Fully written papers (Refereed Conference proceedings)

  • Curry, G. 2005. Doing business in Papua New Guinea: the social embeddedness of small business enterprises. COMMunity engagement in ENTrepreneurial economic activity Research Symposium, 02/02/2005. Newcastle, NSW, Australia: University of Newcastle.